Schakowsky Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to Health Care
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) is reintroducing the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act. This legislation is designed to increase access to health care in underserved areas and diversify the health care providers to meet the needs of different populations.
“We are the richest country in the world, at the richest moment in history. Every person deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare. Right now, too many communities across the country face a shortage of healthcare providers. This is unacceptable for our growing, aging population, for children, and for all Americans,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I am proud to introduce the EMPOWER for Health Act, which will reauthorize Title VII funding for key workforce training programs to help meet the healthcare needs of our entire population.
The EMPOWER for Health Act will reauthorize the Title VII health professions education and training programs from Fiscal Year 2026 through Fiscal Year 2030. This bill will also provide loan repayment for health professionals that agree to work at least two years in pediatric medicine. It also promotes diversity in health care workforce, and promotes enrollment in primary care, geriatric, and dentistry programs.
“The National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) strongly supports the EMPOWER for Health Act, which reauthorizes vital investments in training programs that build a more diverse, culturally sensitive, and community-centered health care workforce. This legislation is essential to advancing health equity, particularly for Latino and underserved communities, by strengthening primary care, expanding pipeline programs for underrepresented students, and enhancing workforce readiness across disciplines and geographies. By reauthorizing these essential programs, the EMPOWER for Health Act helps ensure that the healthcare system reflects the populations it serves,” said Dr. Rafael Saenz, Executive Director for the National Hispanic Medical Association.
"Geriatrics practitioners – physicians, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and others specializing in the care of older adults and improving their health, independence, and quality of life - are experts in chronic conditions and medical complexity, including clinical management of people living with Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia. HHS estimates only 6,580 geriatric physicians are currently practicing in the U.S., well short of meeting the current and future care needs of all of us as we age. The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACA) Program are the only federal programs designed meet the care gap created by the shortage of geriatrics health professionals. Together, these two programs create the geriatrics clinician educator workforce that is needed (GACA Program) and then deploys geriatrics experts to communities to train health care practitioners and caregivers and forge the interprofessional teams necessary to prevent and efficiently manage complex and chronic conditions of older adults (GWEP)," said Nancy Lundbejerg, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society. “The American Geriatrics Society commends Congresswoman Schakowsky’s leadership in advancing quality care for older Americans. As our nation continues to face a severe shortage of both geriatrics healthcare providers and faculty with the expertise to train providers and caregivers, we must expand – not reduce - the number of educational and training opportunities in geriatrics and gerontology.”
"This bill makes perfect sense: reauthorizing state -based successful training programs that address a fundamental challenge of our nation - health care for our population as we age," said Sam Cotton, President of the National Association for Geriatric Education (NAGE).
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