Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has proposed a plan to attract physicians to the state's underserved areas by forgiving medical school debt, according to an Omaha World Herald report.
Mr. Branstad offered several proposals to get physicians to Iowa. First, he proposed spending $2 million every year to pay of student loans for 20 students who will then work five years in rural areas of Iowa. He also wants to spend another $2 million each year to provide grants to hospitals so they can create more medical residencies. Finally, he wants to revise the state's medical lawsuit rules, which will theoretically make the state more attractive to physicians, according to the report.
The national physician shortage seems to already be affecting Iowa: It is ranked 40th among states in its ratio of physicians to residents, according to the report.
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Mr. Branstad offered several proposals to get physicians to Iowa. First, he proposed spending $2 million every year to pay of student loans for 20 students who will then work five years in rural areas of Iowa. He also wants to spend another $2 million each year to provide grants to hospitals so they can create more medical residencies. Finally, he wants to revise the state's medical lawsuit rules, which will theoretically make the state more attractive to physicians, according to the report.
The national physician shortage seems to already be affecting Iowa: It is ranked 40th among states in its ratio of physicians to residents, according to the report.
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