Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act

Building America's Health Care Workforce Act

This bill extends certain flexibilities relating to training and competency requirements for nurse aides in Medicare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and Medicaid nursing facilities (NFs).

Generally, SNFs and NFs may not hire nurse aides for longer than four months unless they meet certain training and certification requirements. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services waived some of these requirements during the COVID-19 emergency period so as to allow facilities to maintain adequate staffing levels; the waiver ends in June 2022.

The bill extends these flexibilities for at least two years after the bill's enactment and specifies that (1) any time worked by a nurse aide during the emergency period counts toward the 75 hours required for initial training, and (2) a competency evaluation may be conducted at the SNF or NF where the nurse aide is employed if the state does not offer such an evaluation at least once a week.

Bill 117 HR 7744, also known as the Building America's Health Care Workforce Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of addressing the shortage of healthcare workers in the country. The bill seeks to increase funding for programs that train and educate healthcare professionals, such as nurses, doctors, and other medical personnel.

One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a grant program that would provide funding to institutions that offer healthcare training programs. This funding would be used to expand existing programs, develop new ones, and improve the quality of education and training provided to healthcare workers.

Additionally, the bill aims to increase the diversity of the healthcare workforce by providing support for programs that target underrepresented minority groups and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes funding for scholarships, mentorship programs, and other initiatives aimed at increasing the number of minority healthcare professionals. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to improve access to healthcare services in underserved communities by incentivizing healthcare workers to practice in these areas. This includes loan forgiveness programs for healthcare professionals who work in rural or underserved areas, as well as funding for telehealth programs that can connect patients in remote areas with healthcare providers. Overall, the Building America's Health Care Workforce Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the US and improve access to healthcare services for all Americans. It emphasizes the importance of training and educating a diverse and well-prepared healthcare workforce to meet the needs of the population.