The PCC has joined 318 organizations in urging Congress to renew and expand funding for the National Health Service Corps and Teaching Health Centers, in a letter led by the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved and American Association of Teaching Health Centers.
As of right now, the funding is set to expire on December 31 for both programs, leaving more than 19 million patients in medically underserved communities who receive care from these clinicians vulnerable. THCGME currently trains nearly 1,200 medical and dental residents across 82 teaching health centers in nearly 30 states, resulting in over 1 million patient visits annually. THCGME trains future physicians in community-based settings, and they often remain and practice in these communities.
The PCC, and the diverse group of signatories of the letter agree that these policies, included in the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act introduced last year, would be a critical step in addressing workforce shortages, especially in medically underserved communities and ensuring healthcare is accessible to those in need.