On July 16, the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss legislative proposals to address the healthcare workforce shortage, specifically considering the potential reauthorization of Title VII and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, which include funding for health professions and nursing workforce development programs. The expert witness on this topic was Dr. Candice Chen, MD, MPH, the acting associate administrator of the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Highlights of this E&C hearing include:
- The U.S. is facing a healthcare workforce shortage. Most states are projected to face major shortages according to HRSA – of over 87,000 primary care physicians, 210,000 registered nurses, and 100,000 behavioral health providers – in the next 10 to 15 years. This is likely to strip patient access to high-quality and affordable medical services.
- Title VII and Title VIII programs are essential. These grant programs allocate resources for scholarships and educational assistance so underprivileged students can pursue medical careers. Title VII allows for the creation of vital programs to produce a robust network of providers, and Title VIII addresses nursing workforce concerns – from education and recruitment to practice and retention.
- There are geographic disparities. While it is imperative to implement initiatives across the country, the health labor crisis is exacerbated in rural areas, which require intentional funding for scholarships and recruitment. Students involved in Title VII and Title VIII are more likely to work in under-resourced health systems, confirming the value of these programs to medically under-resourced populations.
- Support in Congress is waning. Despite their proven positive impacts, Title VII and Title VIII programs are at risk of elimination by the Trump administration. Without support in Congress, it will be difficult to build and sustain a representative healthcare workforce large enough to meet the needs of all communities nationwide. Soon, patients may have to travel further, pay more, or wait longer to access care.
We applaud the E&C Health Subcommittee for bringing these topics to light. To prevent adverse health outcomes, the Coalition urges Congress to reauthorize and sufficiently fund Title VII and Title VIII grant programs to support health career education, practice, and retention.
To watch the E&C Health Subcommittee hearing, CLICK HERE.