In an attempt to bring some relief to the seemingly endless primary-care shortage situation, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced this week that $320 million in grants will go toward "strengthening the healthcare workforce." Most of the money--$253 million--will be divided up among six programs specifically designed to beef up the workforce and aiding in disease prevention, while the remaining $67 million will help educate and train low-income individuals.
The news comes a little more than a week after an announcement from Sebelius that HHS will spend more than $130 million on similar projects that include enhanced equipment training for health professionals and loan repayment.
"Investing in our primary-care workforce will strengthen the role that wellness and prevention play in our healthcare system," she said, according to a press release. "With these grants, Americans from all backgrounds will have new opportunities to enter the healthcare workforce."
Known as Prevention and Public Health Fund Workforce Grants, $253 million will be divided as follows:
- $167.3 million for Primary Care Residency Expansion
- $30.1 million toward the Expansion of Physician Assistant Training (EPAT)
- $31 million toward Advanced Nursing Education Expansion (ANEE)
- $14.8 million for Nurse Managed Health Clinics (NMHC)
- $5.6 million for State Health Workforce Development
- $4.2 million for Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST)
The $67 million set aside in Health Profession Opportunity Grants will help to train low-income individuals to become home care aides, certified nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians and registered nurses, among others.
"[Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] recipients and other low-income individuals want to succeed in the workplace, but sometimes lack the skills to do so," Earl Johnson, director for the Office of Family Assistance, said. "The Health Profession Opportunity Grants will offer quality training and an opportunity to enter a dynamic job sector with real opportunities for career development."
To learn more:
- check out this HHS announcement
- read this post from Sept. 17 on The Hill's blog