Horsford Introduces Bill to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortage
WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Health Providers Training Act to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals across the country.
“The healthcare worker shortage is a crisis that demands immediate action,” said Congressman Horsford. “The Health Providers Training Act will help hospitals recruit qualified staff by investing in healthcare training. This will equip Nevadans with the necessary skills to fulfill these essential roles.”
“The shortage of healthcare workers in Nevada is a huge problem. More than 2.2 million Nevadans live in areas with a shortage of primary care providers,” said Patrick Kelly, President and CEO of the Nevada Hospital Association. “We often hear about the shortage of nurses and physicians, but a great need exists for other healthcare workers too such as Certified Nursing Assistants, technicians, and therapists. Congressman Horsford’s bill will enable hospitals to access the Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program which trains low-income individuals for great career opportunities in healthcare.”
Approximately 81 percent of Nevadans live in primary care health professional shortage areas. Factors contributing to this shortage include high population-to-provider ratios, poverty in urban areas, and extensive travel times to access care in rural regions. The Silver State Health Improvement Plan highlights that Nevada needs an additional 255 family medicine physicians, 626 nurse practitioners, and 3,162 registered nurses to meet national provider-to-patient averages. Limited graduate medical education opportunities and faculty shortages in nursing programs also exacerbate these shortages.
The Health Providers Training Act makes hospitals eligible for the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) Program. This program trains Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and low-income individuals for high-demand healthcare positions. Through HPOG, participants can receive higher education, training, and support services needed to secure well-paying jobs in healthcare, providing Nevadans with opportunities for financial security.
HPOG has a proven track record of successfully preparing low-income Americans for in-demand healthcare careers. By offering career coaching, job placement, and support services, HPOG empowers participants to achieve economic stability and strengthens the healthcare workforce.
Congressman Horsford’s Health Provider’s Training Act was included H.R. 4783, The Pathways to Health Careers Act. This legislation was introduced by the Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, Congressman Danny Davis (IL-07), and seeks to modernize and expand the HPOG program to better support low-income workers in pursuing education and training for healthcare careers, creating good-paying jobs and addressing workforce shortages nationwide.
Congressman Horsford previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Culinary Training Academy, an organization dedicated to reducing unemployment through workplace education and vocational training.