Sinema called for increased support for rural Arizona hospitals who pledge to address Arizona’s doctor shortage by training more doctors
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release $100 million in CARES Act funding through the Provider Relief Fund to support rural Arizona hospitals that pledge to do their part in addressing Arizona’s doctor shortage by training additional doctors for at least three years.
“Increasing critical aid to rural hospitals for training more physicians will help save Arizonans’ lives and alleviate our state’s doctor shortage,” said Sinema.
Every county in Arizona faces a shortage of qualified health care providers, and the shortage is most severe in Arizona’s rural counties. In the bipartisan letter, Sinema and her colleagues raised concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on the physician training infrastructure in rural Arizona. The costs associated with running these vital training programs have proven costly and run the risk of being halted due to the added costs of the global pandemic. Additional CARES Act funds would help rural Arizona hospitals continue training and support providers who practice in rural areas, helping address Arizona’s shortage of medical providers.
Click HERE for Sinema’s letter.
Earlier this month, Sinema urged the release of additional CARES Act funding to health care providers in rural Arizona, with top priority to areas with COVID-19 outbreaks, high senior populations, and facilities with disproportionate share of Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured Arizonans.
Sinema has also added a resources page to her website, www.sinema.senate.gov/corona, with specific resources for Arizonans looking for the latest information on coronavirus.