IDSA and HIVMA support bipartisan bill that will strengthen public health and infectious diseases workforces

Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have introduced legislation to reauthorize the Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Programs, H.R. 4445. These programs, once funded, will create new loan repayment programs for public health and infectious diseases, HIV and emergency preparedness health care professionals who work in health shortage areas — providing a much-needed financial incentive to encourage individuals to pursue careers in public health and ID.

“As health care continues to grow increasingly complex, with cancer care, organ transplants, complicated surgeries and use of certain biologics all increasing the risk of infections, more patients need the care of an ID physician” said IDSA President Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP. “Our members help make health care safer and more effective, and patients with serious infections have better outcomes and lower health care costs when they are seen by an ID physician.” 

“Unfortunately, many patients substantially struggle to access ID physician care as nearly 80% of U.S. counties do not have a single ID physician,” Dr. Tan said. “With only half of ID training programs filling their positions in the past two years, we continue to face a serious recruitment shortfall. The Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program fills a critical gap by helping to make ID a financially feasible choice for the medical students and residents who want to pursue this exciting, dynamic field, but are unable to as staggering medical student debt steers them into more lucrative specialties.” 

The Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program will encourage individuals to work in state and local health departments in exchange for up to three years of student loan repayment. Similarly, the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program will incentivize health professionals to pursue careers in infectious diseases and work in health professional shortage areas, medically underserved communities or federal facilities such as Ryan White clinics, VA facilities and community health centers in exchange for up to three years of student loan repayment.

“People with HIV who have access to experienced HIV clinicians have better outcomes and lower health care costs,” said Colleen Kelley, MD, MPH, FIDSA, chair of HIVMA. “More than 50% of new HIV cases occur in the South where I practice, and it is no coincidence that it also is where HIV clinical workforce shortages are most acute. Loan repayment through the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Programs, in addition to fully funding all parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, will help ensure people with HIV stay healthy, stop HIV transmission and advance the bipartisan effort to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.”  

IDSA and HIVMA call on Congress to swiftly reauthorize and fund this important program to ensure that all Americans can access infectious diseases and HIV health care services and all communities have a robust public health workforce.

About IDSA and HIVMA
The Infectious Diseases Society of America is a global community of 13,000 clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges, from tiny microbes to global outbreaks. Rooted in science, committed to health equity and driven by curiosity, our compassionate and knowledgeable members safeguard the health of individuals, our communities and the world by advancing the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Within IDSA, the HIV Medicine Association is a community of health care professionals who advance a comprehensive and humane response to the HIV pandemic, informed by science and social justice. Visit idsociety.org and hivma.org to learn more.