News and briefs: Obama budget allocates $88 million to pediatric training

The proposed fiscal year 2013 budget contains $88 million dedicated to training pediatricians through the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program (CHGME). The program “supports the training of 45% of all pediatricians and 50% of all pediatric specialists,” according to an online Children’s National Medical Center press release in an effort to combat a national pediatrician shortfall.

According to the childrensnational.org statement, Children’s National is happy with President Obama’s recognition of the program because it will help CHGME, which currently trains 5,600 pediatricians and pediatric specialists at 56 pediatric teaching hospitals each year, but states that the supply of pediatricians still falls short of the current and future demand when paired with steady population growth. The $88 million budget proposal is a 67% reduction in what was allocated last year.

The president proposed eliminating the program in last year’s budget, but funding was added back by Congress.

To read more, click here.