LaHood Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen and Protect our Future Health Care Workforce

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-16), Angie Craig (MN-02), and Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Rebuild America's Health Care Schools Act, to help support and provide much-needed relief to hospital-based nursing schools and allied health education (NAHE) programs.

Nurses and other allied health professionals who receive their education and training at hospital-based programs provide high-quality care to communities here in Illinois and across the country, including rural and underserved areas facing nursing shortages. These are key programs in our health care system, offering essential services that contribute to improving patient outcomes.

"Hospital-based nursing schools in Illinois play a critical role in providing students with a high-quality education and supporting the health care needs of our communities - particularly at a time when America is facing a critical health care workforce shortage," said Rep. LaHood. "I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to protect Illinois' hospital-based nursing schools and allied health programs, support our hardworking nurses and health professionals, and strengthen our health system."

"We must do everything in our power to make sure Americans can access the reliable, high-quality health care they need. That means ensuring everyone entering the medical field gets the hands-on experience they need to provide quality care for their patients," said Rep. Craig. "I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to strengthen our health care workforce."

"I am committed to finding real solutions to the workforce shortage in the healthcare sector, which has had a massive impact on our rural communities," said Rep. Fischbach. "This legislation will allow Nursing and Allied Health students, like nurses and anesthetists, to receive their training at in-health system facilities in our rural area, helping to alleviate staffing strains."

"This commonsense legislation will be a tremendous help to hospital affiliated nursing schools and allied health programs," said Charlene Aaron, President of OSF HealthCare Colleges of Nursing. "We appreciate Congressman LaHood stepping in and taking proactive steps that will improve the sustainability of these critically important schools."

"We thank Representatives LaHood, Craig, and Fischbach for their dedication to, and support of, the future healthcare workforce. This bi-partisan bill updates archaic regulations and eliminates over-regulation which has burdened provider-based nursing and allied health schools for years, and with passage of this bill, our schools, hospitals, and health systems will be able to tackle the healthcare workforce shortage together." said Rafael Malpica, Director, Hospital Programs, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital & Advocate Condell Medical Center.

"The Rebuild America's Health Care Schools Act of 2024 will protect patients' access to highly trained pharmacists and allied health professionals by requiring CMS to clarify the requirements health-systems must meet in order to obtain Medicare funding for pharmacist residency training programs," said Tom Kraus, Vice President of Government Relations for American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. "ASHP is a strong supporter of the Rebuild America's Health Care Schools Act of 2024, which will support training the next generation of our pharmacy workforce."

The Rebuild America's Health Care Schools Act addresses several chronic issues that have hampered the ability to train and grow the next generation of health professionals.

Currently, nurses and other allied health professionals who receive their education and training at hospital-based programs can only provide clinical training at their programs' host hospital. This outdated regulation has not kept up with our modern healthcare system and negatively impacts these students' ability to provide care to rural and underserved areas in need.

This bill will allow hospital-based schools to provide clinical training and support to any hospital and/or other provider entity operating within the same health system and prohibit unjust audits on payments to nursing and allied health education programs.

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Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2024/11/lahood-introduces-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-strengthen-and-protect-our-future-health-care-workforce