Wyden, Blackburn Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Health Care Workforce Shortages

Wyden, Blackburn Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Health Care Workforce Shortages

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., today introduced bipartisan legislation to address the growing shortage of health professionals. The Health Workforce Innovation Act would provide federal support for innovative, community-led partnerships to educate and train more health care workers, especially in rural and underserved communities.

"Our country is staring down the barrel of a health care workforce crisis," Wyden said." Providers are facing burnout from workforce shortages while patients face longer wait times to get care. This bipartisan bill would make much-needed investments in the health care professionals of the future. It's time to take pressure off of these unsung heroes so that Americans can get the care they need."

"The Health Care Workforce Innovation Act is a vital step in addressing our nation's healthcare workforce shortages," Blackburn said. "This bill will foster innovative, community-driven education and training programs, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified health professionals ready to serve rural and underserved areas. By providing additional support, community partners can expand programs, increase capacity, and enhance curricula to better prepare students for the health care workforce."

Medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, among other allied health professionals work closely with physicians and nurses to deliver high quality care to patients in every corner of America. These frontline providers make up more than 60 percent of the U.S. health care workforce, but there is a significant projected shortfall in these jobs over the next 10 years. As a result of rising shortages, patients face longer wait times for health care appointments while providers experience fatigue and burnout.

The Health Workforce Innovation Act would establish a new federal grant program to support community health centers and rural health clinics to carry out innovative, community-driven models to train and develop a pipeline of a wide range of allied health professionals, including through partnerships with high schools, community colleges and other entities.

The legislation is endorsed by the National Rural Health Association, National Network for Oral Health Access, Mental Health America, A.T. Still University, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, National AHEC Organization, American Health Information Management Association, Primary Care Collaborative, Community Catalyst, School Based Health Alliance, American Physical Therapy Association, and National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement.

The bill text is here. The one-pager is here.

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