U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced today that landmark health care reform legislation will include dramatic improvements in primary care and will include many of Castor’s initiatives. Castor announced today she has filed the Primary Care Volunteer Incentive Act, which is designed to encourage more medical students to enter primary care fields. Primary care physicians are generally the first point of contact for patients with medical concerns. She also has filed the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, which would increase the number of resident slots in Florida.

Castor, a member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said: “Focusing on primary care is the lynchpin for controlling costs and it is the foundation of our health care reform effort. We are going to provide a new foundation to lower costs by improving primary care in our nation.”

The United States is facing a troubling physician shortage. Estimates show the United States could be short 200,000 physicians by next year, while the number of patients is expected to increase by 24 percent.

Often, medical school students, burdened with upwards of $100,000 in debt, choose higher-paying specialties. Castor’s legislation is designed to encourage doctors to specialize in family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine and osteopathic medicine.

Castor’s Primary Care Volunteer Incentive Act will create a volunteer program for primary care physicians that will allow them to receive medical school loan repayment if they dedicate themselves to working in a community health center in an area with a large primary care physician shortage. The five-year part-time commitment will enable doctors to establish strong relationships with their patients and communities.

“The primary care doctors are on the front lines and can catch problems early,” Castor said. “That’s more cost effective than having patients show up in emergency rooms, which is more costly for everyone.”

Castor, at a news conference today, was joined by recent medical school graduate Dr. Erica Johnson, who explained how the legislation would help. Johnson represented the American Osteopathic Association, which supports Castor’s bill.

“I applaud efforts by Congress to incentivize medical students to pursue careers in primary care,” Johnson said. “A key part of obtaining this goal is outlined in Representative Castor’s bill, the Primary Care Volunteer Incentive Act. Providing scholarships and loan forgiveness for primary care physicians who agree to practice in high-need and underserved areas would address geographic disparities in access to care and allow young physicians to pursue practice opportunities where they are most needed.”

The American College of Physicians also has expressed its support.

Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of Philadelphia also participated in the news conference and emphasized the need to improve primary care.

“As we move toward creating a uniquely American solution to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, meaningful health coverage, it is clear that successful health care reform must include primary care reform,” Schwartz said. “Primary care is at the core of America’s health care system, and a lynchpin to care coordination and preventive health care, yet there are numerous challenges facing both primary care providers and patients. We must take a multi-faceted approach to support our primary care workforce and enhance care coordination services if we are to meet our goals of affordable, quality health care for all Americans.”