Congress Mulls Primary Care Doc 'Re-entry' Plan Bill

There's a bill floating around in Congress that addresses the nation's primary care physician shortage.

It's called the Primary Care Physician Reentry Act. It's sponsored by Rep. John P. Sarbanes, (D-MD), and there's plenty to like about it.

Essentially, the bill would address the nation's primary care physician shortage by funding pilot programs at medical schools, hospitals, and non-profit providers across the country. These demonstration programs would provide training, financial assistance, and streamlined reaccreditation processes for physicians wishing to re-enter the workforce.

In exchange, physicians who complete the re-entry program agree to provide primary care either full- or part-time for at least two years at community health centers, VA medical centers or school-based health centers.