Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recently issued a press release highlighting the HHS Health Workforce Initiative at an occasion held at Cleveland, Ohio's Lincoln-West School of Science and Health, a public high school that helps students get ready for college and careers in healthcare.
“This initiative will help to elevate workforce projects across the Department, engage with stakeholders, and identify potential policy gaps and opportunities to prioritize,” Department of Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said.
According to a press release, at the event, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra highlighted the recently launched HHS Health Workforce Initiative. The Health Resources and Services Administration's workforce training, scholarship, loan repayment and well-being programs would receive part of the $2.7 billion workforce investment proposed in the President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget as part of the HHS Health Workforce Initiative's mission to support, strengthen and grow the health workforce. The Department's Initiative focuses on federal funding for individuals working in a variety of health workforce disciplines, such as doctors, nurses, dentists, behavioral health care providers, community health workers, peer support specialists and many other professionals who devote their careers to enhancing the health and wellbeing of the country.
“The key to expanding access to high quality health care is a well-trained and well-supported health workforce. At the Health Resources and Services Administration, we are committed to continuing to grow the critical mentoring, training, financial and mental health and well-being supports that make it possible for people to choose and remain in health profession careers. Our work to fund health professions scholarships, loan repayment, stipends, faculty recruitment and development programs is essential to building the next generation of the health workforce. We are delighted to work together with our colleagues across the Department to support the HHS Health Workforce Initiative,” HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said.
The HRSA is the department within HHS that oversees a number of initiatives aimed at expanding, diversifying and supporting the health workforce, with a focus on addressing the needs of underserved and rural regions in terms of healthcare. The National Health Service Corps and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, which support the recruitment and professional development of clinicians to provide community-based care through loan repayment, scholarships and residency training, are given top priority in the President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. In addition to supporting creative workforce programs that would encourage new methods of workforce development and training, HRSA's budget focuses investments in expanding the nursing and behavioral health workforces.
As the nation continues to face healthcare disparities and an evolving healthcare landscape, initiatives like the HHS Health Workforce Initiative play a critical role in shaping the future of healthcare, promoting equal access to care, and addressing the needs of underserved communities.
