Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced last week HHS would award $130.8 million in grants to “strengthen and expand the health professions workforce.â€
The grants will be used to bolster workforce training in both primary care and oral health and for equipment upgrades and enhancements.
Loan repayment assistance for healthcare workers, opportunities for disadvantaged students and the Patient Navigator outreach program will also benefit from the grants.
Sebelius said a dynamic healthcare workforce is integral to reform efforts.
“Today’s awards not only will provide more training opportunities for people interested in a health professions career,†she said, “but also will support equipment purchases and faculty development to expand and enhance the quality of training.â€
Highlights:
Training:
- Primary Care – $42.1 million
- Oral Health – $23.9 million
Equipment:
- $50.5 million for e-learning tools
Assistance:
- Loan repayment – $8.3 million
- Opportunity program – $2.1 million
- Patient Navigator – $ 3.8 million
Every state and the District of Columbia received money from the grants. $88.7 million of the total amount comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
