U.S. SENATOR JONI ERNST OF IOWA SAYS SHE’S INTRODUCING BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HELP ADDRESS THE STATE’S CHRONIC SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS.
ERNST SAYS THE LEGISLATION FOCUSES ON A WAIVER PROGRAM THAT GRANTS FOREIGN DOCTORS WHO ATTENDED MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE U-S THE ABILITY TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY FOR THREE YEARS IF THEY WORK IN AN AREA WITH A SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.
EVERY STATE GETS 30 SLOTS, BUT NOT EVERY STATE USES ALL OF THEIR SLOTS.
LEGISLATION CO-SPONSORED BY DEMOCRATIC MINNESOTA SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR WOULD ALLOW UNUSED WAIVER SLOTS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO STATES LIKE IOWA.
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS SAYS IOWA HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF PHYSICIANS IN THE COUNTRY.
