Bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 introduced

Healthforce's weekly briefing for June 17th, 2025. Get smarter on the latest news & trends in the healthcare workforce.

🖐️ THIS WEEK’S TOP 5

1. Bipartisan bill adds 14k residencies to fight doctor shortage.

2. NursesMC to train Nashville 9th graders for nursing careers by 2025.

3. Rush University launches certificate program for nurse educator workforce.

4. WHO warns of 11M health worker gap by 2030, nurses hit hardest.

5. Mercy Hospital gets $4M grant to improve nurse support, retention.

If you found today’s newsletter insightful, then we’d love to hear from you! Please drop us a line at edenn@globalmedteam or kanza@globalmedteam. See you next week!

💪 IMPACT STORY OF THE WEEK

Global MedTeam, recently featured in Becker’s Hospital Review in a major milestone, is reshaping international nurse recruitment with a cost-effective, no-risk, direct-hire model. The article highlights how Global MedTeam sources clinically trained nurses from the Philippines, offers full support through immigration and onboarding, and provides a scalable, ethical solution to help hospitals address America’s looming shortage of over 1 million nurses by 2030. (Becker’s)

⚖️ POLICY SPOTLIGHT

1. Two bipartisan bills aim to ease nursing home staffing shortages: 1) the CNA Workforce Improvement Act, which would let more RNs supervise CNA training by dropping the long-term care experience requirement and 2) the Train More Nurses Act which seeks to boost nursing school faculty and expand LPN-to-RN pathways. (McKnight’s)

2. California is investing nearly $200 million to provide hiring bonuses up to $20,000 for psychologists and social workers, addressing mental health staff shortage in state prisons. Despite high salaries, staffing issues persist, leading to new hybrid work policies and facility improvements to boost recruitment and retention. (KFF Health News)

3. U.S. Reps. Sewell and Fitzpatrick introduced the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 to expand Medicare-funded residency slots by 14,000 over seven years. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and American Medical Association (AMA) support the bill, emphasizing its impact on improving doctor access nationwide, especially in rural areas. (Sewell.House.Gov)

U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D, AL-7)

🎓 BACK TO SCHOOL

1. A new Explorer Post program in Ohio’s Jefferson and Brooke counties aims to recruit local high schoolers into EMS careers amid a worsening staffing shortage. EMS leaders say low pay and long training deter applicants, as summer call volumes continue to rise across the region. (WTOV 9)

2. The Cuyahoga County Healthcare Sector Partnership, Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals launched the Nursing Clinical Adjunct Faculty Initiative to train clinical staff as faculty, expanding nursing program capacity in Northeast Ohio. Boot camps begin June 2025, aiming to reduce student waitlists and increase clinical rotations. (News Wise)

3. Nashville’s Nurses Middle College (NursesMC), launching in fall 2025 with a $21.7M Bloomberg grant, will train 9th graders for nursing careers through hands-on hospital internships and mentorships. It aims to reduce the national nursing shortage and boost diversity by preparing students early with certifications and college credits. (Style Blue Print)

4. Rush University College of Nursing has created a 12-credit Nurse Educator Certificate Program to address the nurse faculty shortage limiting nursing school capacity. This program aims to prepare nurses for educator roles and help reduce the thousands of qualified applicants turned away each year due to faculty shortages. (Becker’s)

📊 BY THE NUMBERS

1. The WHO projects a global shortfall of 11M health workers by 2030, with nurses forming a large share of the gap. India faces one of the most critical crises, with a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:670, driven by poor training infrastructure, urban-rural disparities, and high migration rates. (Ukmalayalee)

2. Healthcare added 62,200 jobs in May 2025, led by hospitals with 29,900 new positions. (Medical Economics)

3. The proposed FY 2026 federal budget threatens nursing education and research by cutting $302M in Title VIII funding and dismantling the National Institute for Nursing Research, risking worsened patient care amid a nursing shortage of over 5 million. The American Nurses Association warns Medicaid cuts could cause 8.6 million to lose coverage, deepening workforce and access crises. (Daily Nurse)

🏥 HOSPITAL WATCH

1. Butler Hospital plans to permanently replace 800 striking SEIU 1199 NE workers amid one of the nation’s longest recent healthcare strikes, despite a staffing shortage and over 400 open positions. Labor experts say replacing strikers is difficult, especially as the union alleges unfair labor practices. (The Public’s Radio)

2. Holyoke Medical Center hired 25+ new grad nurses last year via student tech and clinical programs, but has struggled to recruit experienced RNs and LPNs amid a severe shortage. Industry sources cite burnout, ghosting, and demand for flexibility. (Business West)

3. Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, NY received a $4M grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to improve nursing conditions. It's the only Long Island hospital among 13 statewide to receive the funding, aiming to boost retention and workplace support. (Newsday)

4. Vera Whole Health, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield opened a new advanced primary care center in Richmond, VA, to combat a projected shortage. The partnership offers Anthem members same- or next-day access, longer visits, and integrated care to improve outcomes. (Yahoo!)

⚕LET’S TALK

Global MedTeam offers one of the most impactful ways to address the healthcare workforce shortage, through connecting international nurses to leading healthcare systems in the US.

If you’re interested in being a part of the solution, get in touch.