Legislation introduced last week by Reps. James Comer (R-KY) and Morgan McGarvey (D-NY) aims to boost the nation’s shortage of nurses, nurse aides and other healthcare professionals.
If passed, the Health Care Workforce Investment Act (HR 9812) would direct the secretary of Health and Human Services to “award grants to states to establish, increase the availability of, and improve access to, qualified healthcare programs to increase and strengthen the healthcare workforce in such states.”
Senior living and care advocates applaud the initiative.
“Workforce challenges are a long-standing issue in aging services that, due to demographic shifts and the pandemic’s impact, are intensifying. Recruiting, developing and retaining a robust and thriving workforce is our members’ most pressing issue,” Nicole Howell, director of workforce policy at LeadingAge, told the McKnight’s Business Daily on Thursday. “We welcome policymakers’ interest in and commitment to meaningful action to ensure America’s older adults and families can receive quality care wherever they call home and look forward to working with members of Congress on this legislation.”
Rachel Reeves, spokesperson for the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, noted that the bill addresses both funding and collaboration in boosting the pipeline of healthcare workers. She added that the legislation confirms that Congress recognizes the existing workforce shortage “and yet there’s more to be done to specifically develop nurses, nurse aides and other roles critical to long-term care to ensure access to care for our nation’s seniors is protected.”
The American Seniors Housing Association, likewise, said it is encouraged by the proposed legislation. Jeanne McGlynn Delgado, ASHA vice president of government affairs, however, said the bill is just one way to address the workforce shortage.
“Meeting the workforce demands to care for an aging population will require a myriad of solutions at both the state and federal levels,” Delgado said. “While training programs are a critical component to building a workforce, we continue to advocate that Congress address immigration reform to help ensure the availability of a future pipeline of workers to meet the accelerating demand.”
The bill would provide up to 50% in matching funds to states with an approved workforce plan. A state plan would have to include a description of planned incentives, including income tax credits or program partners, and public-private partnerships aimed at increasing educational, credentialing or licensing programs.
Advocates support the proposed legislation, but the government can be done to ease the workforce shortage.
“Argentum strongly supports efforts to meet the caregiving workforce that is needed across the healthcare system, but most particularly in long-term care, with a demand for more than 20-million workers by the year 2040,” a spokesperson for the association said. “We applaud Reps. Comer and McGarvey for the investments in state-based grants under the Health Care Workforce Investment Act, as Argentum has found state workforce boards and job training programs critical in addressing the needs of our communities.”
Argentum noted that it administers the Healthcare Apprenticeship Expansion Program in which the organization works with more than 30 employers across 45 states in the training, development and emergency aid support for almost 8,000 workers, gaining skills as CNAs, caregivers and lab technicians.
“Participants have benefitted from continuing education and career expansion opportunities, and employers have seen a marked increase in retention,” the spokesperson said. “Argentum is prepared to continue this trajectory with the support of meaningful, life-changing legislation like the Health Care Workforce Investment Act and the SENIOR Act, and we call on Congress to advance these programs to meet our growing caregiving needs.”
