Virginia lawmakers say one topic that will again be discussed during the upcoming General Assembly session is improving healthcare in the Commonwealth. But that goal remains difficult when a large portion of the bright students who attend the state’s six medical schools are forced to move elsewhere due to a lack of residency slots. One critical point of discussion will be how to open up more slots AND pay for them.
Historically, much of the funding for residency slots came from the federal government, but that has not been the case for nearly 20 years. So of the 850 students who attended medical school here in a recent year, about 150 ended up leaving. Delegate and Doctor John O'Bannon, who chairs the Joint Commission on Health Care, says policymakers have looked at several options, including allowing students to complete nontraditional residencies in underserved areas.
“Or allow these unique hospitals that are 30 miles away from any other facility the option to partner with a bigger healthcare entity. And then you can take that family practice resident that needs to get psychiatry – he can go to the big area to get his psychiatry. And he can get his primary care training right at home in his neighborhood.”
Lawmakers say some of the federal formulas for payments are based on outdated data from decades ago. One option to help mitigate the shortage is a state budget amendment to provide an additional Medicaid health professional training supplemental payment for each resident. More slots in primary care, general surgery, psychiatry, geriatrics, and emergency medicine are especially needed.