Senator Tammy Baldwin. (Stock photo)

For the City-Times

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin last week introduced legislation to help address a physician shortage within the VA that keeps veterans waiting far too long for care.

“We must address the underlying issue of the serious physician shortage at the VA in order to address the unacceptable wait times our veterans are experiencing,” said Baldwin.“My bill helps ensure that the VA has the tools to create and sustain a robust health care workforce so that we can guarantee our veterans continue to receive high quality health care in a timely manner. Our veterans have served our country with honor and we owe it to them to keep our promise to provide the benefits they’ve earned.”

Baldwin’s Veterans Affairs Health Workforce Enhancement Act will add 2,000 VA Graduate Medical Education positions in needed specialties, including primary care and mental health over five years. It also allocates new residency slots based on shortages in individual facilities.

In a statement, Dr. John R. Raymond, Sr., President and CEO of the Medical College of Wisconsin. said veterans deserve the “highest-quality medical care there is to offer”.

“The VA’s medical facilities serve our nation’s heroes. To that end, it is imperative we continue to train the next generation of physicians with the directive of serving that population, particularly in areas in which shortages of health care professionals have impacted access to high quality care.”