Report points toward path for alternative GME funding

As physicians continue efforts to ensure a sufficient number of medical trainees are able to enter the physician workforce to stave off a predicted physician shortage, a new report takes a look at alternative funding sources for residency programs and offers steps that could be taken to expand existing graduate medical education (GME) programs and create new programs. The report, written by the AMA Council on Medical Education and adopted Monday at the 2015 AMA Interim Meeting, notes that “given the scrutiny Medicare funding of GME has received of late, there may now be a greater prospect of developing a new payment system that could fund and shape a more appropriate physician workforce.” Initial steps for GME expansion The report examines several existing programs that have relied on private or other alternative funding for bolstering residency programs, highlighting a program in North Carolina as a successful example that could provide insight for other programs, health care systems and communities that are looking to expand their training opportunities. The report suggests these steps for programs that are trying to expand their number of residency slots: Research state funding possibilities. Programs should look into how their state’s Medicaid funds are allocated, whether they support GME and how the allocation for GME is determined. In addition, states that have their own health insurance exchanges may have an option to use a tax on the exchange to hel...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news