S. 2639 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2639 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 22, 2014 Ms. Baldwin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the number of graduate medical education residency positions at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Affairs Health Workforce Enhancement Act of 2014. 2. Increase of graduate medical education residency positions at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 7302 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) (1) In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall establish medical residency programs, or ensure a sufficient number of residency positions in medical residency programs, at any medical facility of the Department that the Secretary determines is experiencing a shortage of physicians. (2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) determine the specialty of health care professionals with respect to which each medical facility of the Department for which the Secretary has made a determination under paragraph (1) is experiencing a shortage of physicians, including with respect to primary care and mental health; (B) allocate the residency programs and residency positions under paragraph (1) based on the determination required by subparagraph (A); and (C) notify Congress of the information used by the Secretary to make the determination required by subparagraph (A). . (b) Five-Year increase (1) In general In carrying out section 7302(e) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), during the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase the number of graduate medical education residency positions at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs by not less than 2,000 positions. (2) Priority In increasing the number of graduate medical education residency positions at medical facilities of the Department under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to medical facilities that— (A) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, do not have a medical residency program; and (B) are located in a community in which there is a high need for health care for veterans.