Deborah Briggs was invited to testify on the findings of the New Jersey Physician Workforce Report before the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee (AHSSC) by the committee’s chairman, Assemblyman Herb Conaway. Ms. Briggs gave a brief but detailed description of the scope of the report and then presented the Committee with four proposed solutions that could be undertaken immediately to stem the flow of physician shortages now and in the future:
1. Establish the Center for Medical and Health Workforce Planning under the New Jersey departments of Labor or Health and Senior Services.
2. Establish a re-licensure survey through the Board of Medical Examiners.
3. Establish a “tax holiday” for physicians who establish their medical practice in the state. A three or four year tax credit would allow new physicians to focus on cash flow/funding for the new medical practice and to repay their educational debit.
4. Support Assemblyman Conaway’s legislation (A-1998) addressing Medical Malpractice reform.
The AHSSC members were attentive and engaged. Assemblywoman Amy Handlin described her plans to garner the support of the Attorney General who has direct authority to require the Board of Medical Examiners to implement the re-licensure survey. Ms Briggs closed her testimony by stressing the importance of reaching and maintaining cohesive mutual goals between the state, teaching hospitals, and medical schools.
Her testimony can be heard by following this link and sliding the time-bar to the 2:08:30 mark:
Read Testimony