Healthcare Advocates Push for Legislative Action on Workforce Issues
- Healthcare advocates from the Workforce Coalition have met with bipartisan lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
- The meetings focus on pushing for new healthcare legislation aimed at improving workforce conditions.
- This lobbying effort highlights the ongoing challenges within the U.S. healthcare system and the need for reform.
Washington, DC, July 25, 2024 – Advocates from the Healthcare Workforce Coalition (HWC) are actively engaging with bipartisan lawmakers on Capitol Hill to promote three key pieces of legislation aimed at addressing the critical challenges facing the nation’s healthcare workforce. The discussions center around the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (HWRA), the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, and the Reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Provider Protection Act. Caitlyn Obrock, System Director of Clinical Recruitment at SSM Health, emphasized the urgency of these initiatives, stating, “We must ensure a strong pipeline of competent clinicians to care for patients during their most vulnerable and greatest time of need.” The HWC is advocating for policies that not only tackle the ongoing workforce shortages but also enhance safety standards and improve mental health support for healthcare providers. The HWRA aims to alleviate workforce gaps by creating immigration pathways for qualified foreign healthcare professionals, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. permanently. Meanwhile, the SAVE Act seeks to combat the alarming rise in violence against healthcare workers by imposing severe penalties for assaults and providing grants to improve hospital security measures. Through these legislative efforts, the HWC hopes to garner increased support from Congress to ensure the passage of these critical bills, which they believe are essential for strengthening the healthcare system and protecting its workforce.