Democrats Introduce Bill To Address Shortage Of Geriatric Care Providers

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 22 Jan 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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House and Senate Democrats on Thursday jointly introduced a bill intended to address a shortage of providers in geriatric medicine, the Washington Times reports. About 7,000 U.S. physicians, or about 1%, are certified geriatricians, "even as the population of older people is on track to double by 2030," according to the Times.

The bill, called the Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act, would expand education and training opportunities in the fields of geriatrics and long-term care for licensed health professionals, direct care workers and family caregivers.

Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) introduced the bill. A vote on the legislation has not been scheduled (Lengell, Washington Times, 1/19).

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