Kings County Times

Today, Congressman David Valadao announced his support for the Health Care Workforce Innovation Act, a legislative effort led by Congressman Andrew Garbarino. The bill aims to address shortages in the healthcare workforce within rural and underserved communities.

"Rising costs and persistent workforce shortages make it difficult for health centers to provide essential services in rural communities like the Central Valley," said Congressman Valadao. "Investing in workforce development is critical to ensuring these communities have access to the healthcare professionals they need. I’m proud to support this bipartisan effort to strengthen the healthcare workforce by expanding local training opportunities to help recruit and retain the next generation of medical professionals who will serve our region."

The legislation seeks solutions for rising costs and workforce shortages that impact healthcare access in these areas. Shortages are particularly significant among roles such as medical assistants, dental hygienists, pharmacy technicians, community health workers, peer support specialists, and other key providers essential for an efficient primary care team. High turnover rates among these professionals impose financial burdens on safety net providers and hinder their capacity to effectively serve patients.

To enhance retention rates, Community Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics are forming innovative partnerships with local high schools, community colleges, and Area Health Education Centers. These collaborations aim to train future allied health professionals. Currently, there is no federal funding dedicated to supporting these partnerships, which restricts their ability to expand successful programs and offer more opportunities within local communities. The proposed bill would facilitate these partnerships by backing locally run apprenticeship programs, career laddering pathways, and preceptorship models designed to offer young people and early-career allied health professionals promising futures in healthcare.