WASHINGTON, May 17 – Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today announced that the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security will hold a hearing Thursday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m. on the health care workforce shortage facing our country titled, “A Dire Shortage and Getting Worse: Solving the Crisis in the Health Care Workforce.”

The Association of American Medical Colleges recently predicted a shortage of up to 139,000 physicians by 2033 and a shortage of 55,200 physicians for primary care alone. While these projections assume underserved populations will continue to be underserved, the numbers could be worse if more Americans get access to care they desperately need.

As of March 31, 2021, there were more than 7,300 primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas, encompassing a population of more than 83 million people – almost exactly 25 percent of all Americans.

Chairman Sanders has invited to testify Dr. David Skorton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges; Dr. Leon McDougle, President, National Medical Association; Shelley Spires, Chief Executive Officer, Albany Area Primary Health Care; and Dr. James Herbert, President, University of New England.

Hearing Details
What: Hearing of the Subcommittee on the Primary Health and Retirement Security to consider “A Dire Shortage and Getting Worse: Solving the Crisis in the Health Care Workforce”
When: Thursday, May 20, 2021, 10:30 a.m. ET 
Where: Room 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing will also be livestreamed on the HELP Committee’s website and Sanders’ social media pages. 
Who: Dr. David Skorton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges; Dr. Leon McDougle, President, National Medical Association; Shelley Spires, Chief Executive Officer, Albany Area Primary Health Care; Dr. James Herbert, President, University of New England.