SCRANTON, PA – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today called on Congress to adequately fund the Title VII health professions programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which recently provided $875,000 over five years to The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) through the Primary Care pre-doctoral training grant.
By the end of the year, Congress will determine federal funding levels for the Title VII health professions programs; failure to adequately fund the program could hamper The Commonwealth Medical College’s ability to fulfill its mission.
“In a few short years TCMC has proven to be a driver of the region's economy and a key part of our area's healthcare system, and it's essential we keep TCMC moving forward” Senator Casey said. “Investing in TCMC improves the region’s health and boosts our economy, and I’ll be fighting hard to make sure Northeastern Pennsylvania’s medical school has the resources it needs.”
The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC), located in Northeastern Pennsylvania with regional campuses in Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport and Scranton, is one of the nation’s newest medical colleges offering a Medical Degree (MD) program. TCMC also offers a Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) degree.
TCMC has received federal funding through Title VII health professions programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including a recent $875,000 grant. As the fiscal year comes to a close, Congress is deciding funding levels for these programs; a severe cut could reduce funding for TCMC and hamper its ability to continue growing.
As Pennsylvania's Senator, Senator Casey has introduced several pieces of legislation designed to aid TCMC and schools likes it across the country. S. 1480 would create grants for medical schools to construct new facilities or renovate and improve existing facilities. Newly accredited schools like TCMC would be given first priority. S. 1481 would create grants to support newly accredited medical schools. These grants could be used to create scholarships, develop academic research programs, recruit and retain faculty and build infrastructure.
Today, Senator Casey called on Congress to adequately fund the programs that aid TCMC.
A full copy of his letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee is below:
The Honorable Daniel Inouye
Chairman, Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Thad Cochran
Ranking Member, Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Tom Harkin
Chairman, LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee
The Honorable Richard Shelby
Ranking Member, LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee
Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:
I am writing today regarding the importance of the Title VII programs to ensuring we have a strong health care workforce.
As you know, the Title VII programs, including the primary care pre-doctoral training grant program, provide direct financial support for health care workforce development and education. In addition, they are the only federal programs designed to train providers in interdisciplinary settings to respond to the needs of special and underserved populations, and ensure we have a robust workforce to care for an aging America.
Since 1963, the Title VII programs have played an essential role in both preparing students for careers in the health professions and bringing health care workers to communities where quality health care is difficult to find. A strong commitment to the Title VII programs would help address our nation’s unprecedented provider shortages and our rapidly growing and aging population.
In addition, support for health care workforce education and training programs has a significant economic impact. For example, in 2008, the most recent year in which data is available, medical schools and teaching hospitals, had a combined $512 billion benefit on the national economy. And each trained primary care doctor, for example, generates $1.5 million of economic activity.
Helping to fund the education and training of health professions would improve patient care, foster job creation, and help grow our economy.
Sincerely
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
###
