Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have introduced legislation to reauthorize the Public Health and Bio-Preparedness Workforce Loan Repayment Programs, H.R. 4445. These programs, once funded, will create new loan repayment programs for public health and infectious diseases, HIV and emergency preparedness health care professionals who work in health shortage areas - providing a much-needed financial incentive to encourage individuals to pursue careers in public health and ID.

"As health care continues to grow increasingly complex, with cancer care, organ transplants, complicated surgeries and use of certain biologics all increasing the risk of infections, more patients need the care of an ID physician" said IDSA President Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP. "Our members help make health care safer and more effective, and patients with serious infections have better outcomes and lower health care costs when they are seen by an ID physician."