Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $320 million in grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
Of those grants, $253 million will go to improve and expand the primary care workforce under the Prevention and Public Health Fund of the Affordable Care Act. Another $67 million in Health Profession Opportunity Grants will provide low-income individuals with education, training and support services for careers in healthcare.
“Chronic diseases, most of which are preventable, are one of the main reasons healthcare costs have soared over the past several decades,” said Sebelius. “Investing in our primary care workforce will strengthen the role that wellness and prevention play in our healthcare system. With these grants, Americans from all backgrounds will have new opportunities to enter the healthcare workforce.”
Prevention and Public Health Fund grants are awarded in six health professions programs administered by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The programs are designed to build the primary care workforce and provide community-based prevention.
“These grants are the most comprehensive yet in addressing our nation’s shortage of key health professionals,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield. “They will provide much-needed support for increasing primary care capacity by expanding training programs for primary care providers, increasing access to patient care clinics, strengthening state-level workforce planning and providing training for personal home healthcare aides. All are vital to our future healthcare workforce.”
Prevention and Public Health Fund Workforce Grant recipients:
- Primary Care Residency Expansion, $167.3 million;
- Expansion of Physician Assistant Training, $30.1 million;
- Advanced Nursing Education Expansion, $31 million;
- Nurse Managed Health Clinics, $14.8 million;
- State Health Workforce Development, $5.6 million; and
- Personal and Home Care Aide State Training, $4.2 million.
The Health Profession Opportunity Grants, administered by the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance, will provide 32 grants to entities in 23 states. These grants will provide low-income individuals with training programs for a variety of healthcare professions, including home care aides, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, emergency medical technicians, licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, dental assistants and health information technicians.
Grant recipients include five Native American and tribal organizations as well as non-profit organizations, state and local governments and community colleges.
“The absence of qualified workers in the healthcare field threatens the quality and availability of medical care and the economic stability and growth potential of local communities,” said David A. Hansell, acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families. “The training initiatives will provide low-income families the opportunity for economic independence and a better life for themselves and their children while helping to strengthen our healthcare workforce.”