Next week, CAFP President Walt Mills, MD will head to Washington D.C. to urge Congress to take immediate action to fund the Teaching Health Center (THC) Graduate Medical Education program. The THC program is a vital tool in growing the primary care pipeline by funding primary care residency programs in community clinics in underserved areas. In a letter to congressional leaders last fall, the AAFP warned that delaying long-term reauthorization could undermine the residency match process; now, residency program directors are confirming that the delays are affecting them. This week, THC programs directors and residents participated in a briefing on Capitol Hill, detailing increased hesitancy among prospective residents to choose a THC program due to funding uncertainty. The AAFP has urged Congress to enact long-term THCGME reauthorization, citing the negative effects of inadequate or short-term funding. Please join Dr. Mills and lend your voice to the cause by using AAFP’s Speak Out tool to tell Congress to fully fund this crucial program!
