Rep. Kind Calls for Passage of His Legislation to Help with VA Medical Staffing Shortages

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind wrote a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee requesting they take immediate action to bring up his bill to address the shortage of medical personnel at VA facilities. This would potentially help fill staffing shortages at both Tomah VA Medical Center, Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, and other veterans facilities in Wisconsin.

"As I talk with both veterans and VA officials one of the biggest concerns they discuss is the problem of recruiting and retaining medical staff. Our veterans are entitled to the quality care they have earned and deserve, and as we have seen first-hand when there are staffing shortages they are not receiving it. I urge the House Energy and Commerce Committee to move my legislation forward so we can address the problem by providing additional incentives for health care professionals to work in our veterans facilities," said Rep. Kind.

Rep. Kind's bipartisan Veterans Access to Care Act, would designate VA medical facilities as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). This designation would allow these sites to compete for National Health Service Corps fellows, which is a program that pays student loan repayment or gives scholarships to doctors, dentists, mental health professionals, nurses, or medical students who pledge to practice in a HPSA for at least two years.

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