We've talked a lot about health reform and the primary care workforce -- on our blog, at our recent implementation forum -- and in yesterday's post about expanding the nurse practitioners' role. We thought it would be useful to review some of the specifics in the new law.
Workforce Innovations:
The health reform law establishes a multi-stakeholder national workforce commission to develop a national workforce strategy, with a strong focus on primary care retention and recruitment. Several regional workforce centers will collect and analyze data and make recommendations to the commission. A Centers of Excellence program will support and recruit minorities interested in health careers.
Loan, Grants, and Scholarships:
Health reform law offers scholarships and eases loan repayments for some health and allied health professionals, with a focus on primary care workers and those serving in medically-underserved areas, whether urban or rural. (Read more about "health professional shortage areas" here.) The law expands and extends funding for the National Health Service Corps, which provides loan repayment for clinicians who serve two years in provider shortage areas.
Education and training:
Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots will be redistributed, with emphasis on primary care and underserved areas. GME regulations will be more flexible, and nurses, residents, and other health professionals will be able to train in outpatient settings, including community health clinics. "Teaching health centers" will have primary care residency programs. The law also promotes cultural competency training for health processionals, as well as training in mental, behavioral, and oral health.
As we’ve mentioned before, part of the reason for the anticipated national nursing shortage is the lack of instructors. Health reform increases loan repayment and retention grants for nurse-educators. Reform also supports nurse training programs and creates a nursing career ladder. (Read more about reform law provisions relating to nurses here.)
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