Kudos to Mathew Zahn et al on this viewpoint in published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Infectious diseases specialists add value, improving and protecting the public's health. I could not agree more. However, low compensation in infectious diseases is a significant recruitment disincentive.
Zahn et al do not simply describe a problem, they propose solutions
Theses include loan repayment opportunities for physicians working in public health, improved financial compensation for infection control and antimicrobial stewardship, changes in CMS coding and reimbursement to reflect the complex level of care provided by cognitive specialties (such as ID) and full funding of local, state and federal public health agencies.
Protecting the common good requires resources.
Fund it!
