Washington, D.C. – On Friday, a group of Biden administration health officials will participate in “Match Day”, an event celebrated by medical students across the country as they discover where they will be completing their residency programs. This special day will involve officials visiting various medical schools, including schools in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nashville, Wisconsin, California, and North Carolina.
One significant visit will be made by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to a medical school in Washington, D.C., where he will speak about President Biden’s health care agenda. Becerra’s focus will be on addressing maternal health, medical racism, and the importance of investing in a diverse health care workforce.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only 5.7 percent of doctors are Black, highlighting the need for increased diversity in the medical field. Match Day plays a crucial role in determining the future paths of medical students as they embark on their residency programs that typically span several years.
In an effort to prioritize diversity, officials will be visiting three historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs). Becerra will visit Howard University’s School of Medicine, while other officials will be visiting institutions like Meharry Medical College in Nashville and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
The Biden administration’s focus on lowering health care costs will also be addressed during the visits. Biden’s recent State of the Union speech emphasized efforts to tackle prescription drug prices and ensure the protection and improvement of the Affordable Care Act.
One of Biden’s proposals includes extending Medicare’s $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs to individuals with commercial insurance. Additionally, he aims to enforce penalties on drugmakers who increase prices at rates exceeding inflation and make lasting improvements to the Affordable Care Act set to expire in 2025.
These visits serve as a platform for officials to engage with future health care professionals, advocate for diversity in the medical field, and highlight the administration’s commitment to affordable and accessible health care for all.