(Sept. 4, 2008) With the reauthorization of Title VII on the congressional agenda for next session, AACOM has urged Congress to take a close look at these programs and act in order to avert a shortage of health care professionals. AACOM, along with 13 other groups who are members of the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (FASHP), sent a letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy and Ranking Member Michael Enzi, articulating a vision for reauthorization of the program.
AACOM and other members of the community know that Congress will not reauthorize this program in its current form. Therefore, FASHP members proposed changes to this program that would strengthen the health professions workforce. Of note, the letter outlined a new structure for the primary care medicine and dentistry program, in which preference would be given to applications submitted jointly with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) and other similar entities. This structure would emphasize the interprofessional nature of health care while guiding health professionals to practice in underserved areas. The groups also proposed creating a new primary care medicine and dentistry program that would award grants to schools or departments to administer demonstration projects to improve the quality of primary care in areas of national need. The letter also stressed that in order to implement the innovative programs proposed in the letter, Congress would need to provide funding above the current authorized and appropriated levels.
Once Congress returns from recess, FASHP members will meet with interested members and their staffs to discuss the reauthorization process. We will continue to update AACOM members as this process moves forward.
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