Legislation to Alleviate Growing Workforce Crisis Introduced in Congress

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Jodi Boyne

New legislation introduced in Congress would help aging services providers alleviate its growing workforce crisis:    

Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act (H.R. 346)

To help advance the role of direct care workers, this legislation would study care coordination and improved delivery of health services for older adults with chronic illness or at-risk of re-hospitalization. Specifically, the legislation would fund:

• Two projects that incorporate direct-care workers into interdisciplinary care coordination teams to promote smooth transitions in care and help to prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions.
• Two projects that focus on maintaining and improving the health status of older adults with multiple chronic conditions and long-term care needs. Direct-care workers will help monitor health status, help consumers follow prescribed care, and educate the consumer and family caregiver(s).
• Two projects that train direct-care workers to take on deeper clinical responsibilities related to specific diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. 

Direct Creation, Advancement and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act (H.R. 3778)

In response to the growing need for direct care workers, this legislation would establish grants for demonstration projects on the recruitment and retention of direct care workers and the expansion of career advancement opportunities for them. 

Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act (H.R. 3351)

To help ease the present nursing shortage, this legislation would provide up to 8,000 employment-based immigration visas per year for nurses, physical therapists, and other health care workers. 

We will be urging members of Congress to cosponsor these bills to move them forward in the House. Stay tuned to Advantage and your email for updates.