Workforce and Training

IDSA promotes a robust ID workforce of clinicians, researchers, and public health experts through a variety of efforts. In the public policy arena, the Society promotes the value of ID physicians and supports access to and appropriate reimbursements for infectious diseases services. IDSA also supports funding and policies that foster ID training.

Outbreak Activation Reimbursement for Providers on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Response

IDSA asks that Congress establish an enhanced payment and authority for a Medicare coding pathway for outbreak activation activities of health care providers, similar to Medicare’s existing trauma activation coding and payment policies.

Contact your Congressional representative through our Advocacy Center to show your support for funding and policies that foster a robust infectious disease workforce.

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IDSA-HIVMA Comments to NIOSH on Mental Health Support and Work-Related Stress Relief for Health Workers

12/8/2021

IDSA and HIVMA recommendations to the CDC National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) on strengthening evidence-based occupational safety and health interventions to prevent work related stress and support mental health in healthcare workers.

Joint IDSA, HIVMA, PIDS & SHEA Comments on proposed J-1 Visa Changes (PDF)

IDSA, HIVMA, PIDS and SHEA call on the Department of Homeland Security to exempt physicians working in the United States on J-1 visas from the agency’s proposed rule in comments expressing deep concerns about the limits the change would impose.

Joint IDSA HIVMA Statement on the ID and HIV Workforce (PDF)

9/14/2017

Joint IDSA/HIVMA testimony delivered at the House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing "Supporting Tomorrow's Health Providers: Examining Workforce Programs Under the Public Health Service Act."

IDSA Outlines ID Policy Issues for Trump Transition Team (PDF)

11/28/2016

IDSA outlines important ID policy issues for Vice President-elect Mike Pence, head of the Trump Transition Team.

IDSA Response to ID Match for Appointment Year 2016 (PDF)

12/8/2015

Attracting the best and brightest to ID is a top priority for IDSA. The recent results of the ID Match for Appointment Year 2016, which were released on December 2, 2015, reaffirm the importance of the Society's ongoing efforts to promote the specialty.

Call to Include BIO Preparedness Workforce Act in PREVENT Pandemics Act

2/9/2022

IDSA and HIVMA lead over 45 organizations calling on the Senate to include ID loan repayment bill in broader pandemic preparedness effort.

BIO Preparedness Workforce Act Multi-Organization Support Letter

10/25/2021

IDSA and HIVMA lead over 30 organizations in endorsing the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act.

BIO Preparedness Workforce Act Section by Section Summary

10/18/2021

A section-by-section summary of the Bio Preparedness Workforce Act.

BIO Preparedness Workforce Act One Pager

10/18/2021

Summary of request to cosponsor the Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act led by Rep. Lori Trahan and Rep. Dave McKinley.

BIO Preparedness Workforce Act FAQ

10/18/2021

A guide to FAQs about the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act.

IDSA Recommendations for Public Health Preparedness

6/10/2021

IDSA makes recommendations for Senate HELP Committee preparedness effort, including strengthening workforce and combating antimicrobial resistance.

IDSA/HIVMA urge loan repayment for ID/HIV clinicians

4/9/2021

IDSA and HIVMA submitted comments for the record of a Senate hearing on the health care workforce.

IDSA and HIVMA Urge Policies to Strengthen ID/HIV Workforce

4/9/2021

IDSA and HIVMA letter to Senate Committee recommends loan repayment, training and mentoring support, and improved compensation for ID/HIV physicians.

Joint IDSA, HIVMA, PIDS, & SHEA Letter to Department of Homeland Security regarding J-1 Visas (PDF)

10/26/2020

IDSA, HIVMA, PIDS and SHEA express concern over DHS' new proposed policy allowing physicians on J-1 visas to extend their length of authorized stay for additional training at the same time they renew their J-1 visas status to a specific end date.

IDSA & HIVMA Joint Health Heroes Letter (PDF)

5/8/2020

IDSA and HIVMA show their support for the provisions made under Health Heroes Act which would dramatically expand the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), the Nurse Corps, and ramp up the nation’s health care surge capacity. In addition to our support, IDSA and HIVMA offer clarifying changes to the text of the bill.

IDSA J-1 Visa Request (PDF)

4/29/2020

IDSA recommendations to Congress regarding J-1 Visas for physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IDSA Recommendations to Senate Finance Committee on MACRA (PDF)

7/12/2016

IDSA recommendations to the Senate Finance Committee for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, including the need for new infectious diseases (ID) quality measures and ways to better align new physician quality improvement programs with antibiotic stewardship and public health emergency preparedness. IDSA also highlighted the current undervaluation of the ID specialty and the steep decline in the number of physicians pursuing ID.

IDSA HIVMA Comments to HRSA on the ID Workforce and the Opioid Epidemic (PDF)

3/20/2019

IDSA and HIVMA submitted recommendations to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on building the ID workforce capacity necessary to respond to the opioid epidemic.

IDSA Letter to NIAID Re K Payline (PDF)

8/17/2018

IDSA letter to NIAID regarding the final NIAID K award paylines for FY19. IDSA believes that the current baseline level of funding for K awardees if detrimental to the support of a strong ID physician-scientist pipeline.

IDSA Introduction to HHS Secretary Azar on ID Priorities (PDF)

2/13/2018

IDSA congratulates new HHS Secretary Alex Azar on his appointment and highlights key issues facing patients and public health, including antimicrobial resistance, ID implications of the opioid epidemic, global health security, public health infrastructure and immunizations, research investments, and the ID physician workforce.

IDSA Comments RE HHS FY2018 - 2022 Strategic Plan (PDF)

10/27/2017

IDSA comments on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FY2018 - 2022 Strategic Plan.

IDSA Letter of Introduction to Surgeon General VADM Adams (PDF)

10/27/2017

IDSA congratulates VADM Jerome Adams on his appointment as the nation's Surgeon General, the country's chief doctor and leader of the Public Health Commissioned Corps. IDSA requests a meeting with Dr. Adams to discuss key issues and opportunities to collaborate.

Joint IDSA HIVMA PIDS Comments to NIAID on Next Gen Researchers Initiative (PDF)

9/1/2017

IDSA, HIVMA, and PIDS jointly submitted comments to NIAID on their Next Generation Research Initiative (NGRI).

Joint IDSA HIVMA PIDS Letter to NIH on Next Generation Researchers Initiative (PDF)

8/2/2017

IDSA, the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) wrote to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the importance of the Next Generation Researchers Initiative (NGRI).

IDSA Highlights Pressing ID Policy Issues for New HHS Secretary (PDF)

2/21/2017

IDSA outlines a number of pressing ID policy priorities for new HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price, including antimicrobial resistance, domestic and global public health programs, infrastructure, and preparedness, biomedical research and innovation, and ID physician workforce issues.

IDSA Leads Organizations in Advocacy for Implementation of NIH Physician Scientist Workforce Recommendations (PDF)

8/31/2016

IDSA was joined by 35 other health groups in a letter to NIH Director Francis Collins requesting an update on efforts to bolster the physician-scientist workforce.

IDSA Responds to NIH Request for Information on Physician-Scientist Diversity (PDF)

12/28/2015

IDSA commented on a NIH request for information on strategies to enhance diversity in the physician-scientist workforce, a recommendation from the NIH physician-scientist workforce report. IDSA enthusiastically supported the NIH’s effort, and highlighted the importance of strong NIH support of mentorship to underrepresented minorities.

IDSA, PIDS, and HIVMA Comments to NIH to Improve the Impact and Sustainability of Biomedical Research (PDF)

5/15/2015

IDSA, PIDS, and HIVMA jointly commented on an NIH request for information on ways to optimize funding policies or other strategies that improve the impact and sustainability of biomedical research. The societies' listed areas of concern in administrative burden, workforce sustainability, and prioritization of research funding, and offered specific recommendations to improve them.

IDSA, PIDS, and HIVMA Comments on NIH Physician-Scientist Workforce Report (PDF)

11/4/2014

IDSA, along with PIDS and HIVMA, jointly commented on the NIH Physician-Scientist Workforce Working Group report highlighting recommendations to improve the state of the physician-scientist workforce. While IDSA, PIDS, and HIVMA support many of the Working Group's findings, they highlight several concerns on specific recommendations.

Fact Sheet on ID Physician Workforce and Reimbursement (PDF)

1/1/2019

Overview of issues related to the ID physician workforce, reimbursement, and evaluation and management (E/M) codes.

The Future Supply and Demand for Infectious Disease Physicians (PDF)

3/1/2017

IDSA, in collaboration with the George Washington University Health Workforce Institute (GW-HWI), undertook a series of studies of the ID physician workforce in 2016. Based on the survey results and additional data, this report explores factors that are likely to influence the future supply and demand for ID physicians and presents projections of future supply and demand.