Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
White House To Distribute $1.5 Billion To Help Ease Health Worker Shortage
Modern Healthcare: White House Awards $1.5 Billion To Health Workforce Programs
The Biden administration has awarded $1.5 billion in scholarships and student loan repayment assistance for students and healthcare workers, part of an effort to diversify the workforce and ease shortages in underserved communities. Congress in March passed an funding influx for the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps and behavioral health workforce programs, which increased scholarships and loan repayment awards by 27% this year, according to the Health and Human Services Department. (Hellman, 11/22)
AP: Harris Announces $1.5B Investment In Health Care Workforce
The funding will go to the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps and Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery programs, all federal programs that offer scholarship and loan repayments for health care students and workers if they pledge to work in underserved and high-risk communities. ... The money, which includes funds from the American Rescue Plan and other sources, will support more than 22,700 providers, marking the largest number of providers enrolled in these programs in history, according to the White House. It comes in response to recommendations laid out earlier this month by the White House’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which issued a report outlining how the administration could address systemic inequality in the health care system. (Jaffe, 11/22)
The Hill: Harris Announces $1.5B To Fight Shortage Of Doctors In Underserved Communities
“Health disparities existed long before this virus reached our shores. Health disparities stem from broader, systemic inequities,” Harris said at an event later Monday. “Our nation must invest in a healthcare workforce that looks like America and provide access to equitable healthcare for all Americans.” On Monday, Harris also announced plans to start awarding $330 million in funding from President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan, which he signed into law in March, to the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education to help expand the number of primary care physicians and dentists in underserved communities. (Chalfant, 11/22)
