HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today an additional $159.1 million in grants will be made available to strengthen healthcare workforce training programs.These grants, which fall under the Affordable Care Act and Recovery Act, will strengthen and grow the nation’s primary care workforce and will target three types of programs: Nursing Workforce Development programs; interdisciplinary geriatric education and training programs; and Centers of Excellence programs for underrepresented minority students.
“We cannot build a healthier America if our country continues to face a growing health professions shortage,†Sebelius said. “A well-trained, educated and diverse workforce is critical to meeting future healthcare demands, and to reforming the nation’s health care system.â€
Nursing Workforce Development programs will receive $106 million of the grants, while three geriatric education and training programs at accredited health professions schools will be allocated $29.5 million and $23.6 million will go toward support of Centers of Excellence programs, which were designed to improve the recruitment and performance of underrepresented minority students preparing for health professions careers.
“These grants target key workforce needs,†said Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Mary K. Wakefield. “In addition to training new healthcare workers, these grants will support efforts to better prepare healthcare workers to care for our diverse and aging population, improving health care quality for all Americans.â€
Sebelius is scheduled to discuss the funds today at the National Health Service Corps Conference.
