Montgomery News

Congressman Brett Guthrie and Congressman Morgan Griffith have announced a legislative hearing focused on maintaining and improving public health services. The hearing, titled "Legislative Proposals to Maintain and Improve the Public Health Workforce, Rural Health, and Over-the-Counter Medicines," is set for July 16, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Chairman Guthrie and Chairman-Designate Griffith emphasized the importance of these programs. "These vital public health programs play a critical role in improving health care for Americans," they said. They highlighted the significance of initiatives like the Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program in ensuring patient access to safe products.

Dr. Candice Chen from HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce provided testimony on addressing workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas. She pointed out that by 2037, there could be a shortage of 87,150 primary care physicians and 210,000 registered nurses. Behavioral health professional shortages also affect over half of Americans.

HRSA's key programs were discussed during Dr. Chen's testimony. The National Health Service Corps supports clinicians in underserved areas with scholarships and loan repayment options. The Teaching Health Center GME program focuses on residency training in community settings, while behavioral health initiatives have trained thousands of providers.

Dr. Chen called on Congress to reauthorize expiring programs like NHSC and THCGME to continue supporting workforce growth and address geographic and specialty shortages. She stressed the need for bipartisan efforts to ensure equitable access to care across the nation.

The hearing will be open to the public and available online at energycommerce.house.gov.

Information from this article can be found here.