SAHM Members:
As we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system, we wish you, your families, and co-workers are all well and safe and ask for your support for an important issue to adolescent medicine.
Many of us are pediatric subspecialists who have an opportunity to support funding of the
Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program (PSLRP)
which will
provide $35,000 in loan repayment per year for up to three years in exchange for practicing in an underserved area, helping to address in part the economic disincentives individuals face that can discourage them from subspecializing. This program would help address the shortage and geographic disparities that impact a child’s ability to access the subspecialty care he or she needs. The good news is that when Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the bill included a five-year reauthorization of the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program (PSLRP)
.
This is a vital step toward addressing critical shortages of pediatric subspecialists and it could not come at a more urgent time.
Now that PSLRP has been reauthorized, we are working with our partner, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), to advocate for securing its funding for the first time. Though much of Washington’s attention is focused on COVID-19 response, the annual appropriations process is ongoing, and Congress must take action before the end of the current fiscal year on
September 30
. The current public health emergency has highlighted the value of investing in health care systems, including ensuring that our country has an adequate physician workforce to provide needed care.
The AAP and subspecialty coalition partners have urged Congress to provide $50 million in funding for PSLRP in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, and we are asking SAHM members to contact members of Congress to encourage them to prioritize this funding for the coming year. The voice of pediatric subspecialist constituents is powerful in encouraging Congress to act.
To include your voice, please follow the instructions below:
- Visit https://federaladvocacy.aap.org
- Select “Support Children's Access to Specialty Care” under Our Issues.
- An AAP website login is required; non-members can create a login by providing a valid email address.
- If you experience any issues taking action, please email the AAP at [email protected].
Thank you for all you are doing in this challenging time, and please be in touch if there is anything we can do to further support you.
SAHM Advocacy Committee
