House Dems Warn Trump Policies Threaten Direct Care Workforce

Healthforce's weekly briefing for April 22, 2025. Get smarter on the latest news & trends in the healthcare workforce.

🖐️ THIS WEEK’S TOP 5

1. US Senators introduce SPARC Act to repay loans for specialist doctors.

2. New Illinois law lets international doctors practice under supervision.

3. GCU opens accelerated nursing program in Idaho to ease RN shortage.

4. Pennsylvania eyes training, aid to fight 20K nurse shortfall by 2026.

5. Hospitals expand residencies to curb doc shortage.

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

House Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Debbie Dingell, warned that President Trump’s immigration policies could worsen healthcare worker shortages, especially in direct care roles. (USA Today)

⚖️ POLICY SPOTLIGHT

1. The Physicians Pathway Act allows international physicians to practice in Massachusetts after serving three years in underserved areas. The law aims to improve healthcare access for underserved populations and immigrants. (Metrowest Daily News)

2. On a related note, a new bill in Massachusetts would allow physician assistants (PAs) to practice without a supervising physician after completing 2,000 clinical hours. However, the Massachusetts Medical Society opposes the bill, citing concerns over patient safety and the importance of physician-led teams. (Boston.com)

3. A new Illinois law allows internationally trained doctors to practice under a supervised license, helping address a projected shortage of 6,200 doctors by 2030. With over 12,000 residents holding unrecognized medical degrees, the law aims to ease the healthcare gap, offering diverse, skilled professionals a pathway to practice. (Chicago Sun Times)

4. U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen and Roger Wicker introduced the bipartisan SPARC Act by creating a student loan repayment program for specialist doctors. The bill aims to improve healthcare access in underserved communities, with support from UNLV and other stakeholders. (Rosen.Senate)

🎓 BACK TO SCHOOL

1. Grand Canyon University launched a 16-month accelerated nursing program in Meridian, Idaho, aiming to ease the state's shortage of up to 1,867 RNs. In partnership with Saint Alphonsus, students receive hands-on clinical training as GCU expands health care education across nine U.S. sites. (Yahoo!)

2. The Los Angeles County Nursing 2035 initiative, led by Compton College and CSU, aims to address the region’s nursing shortage, with 6,454 RN job openings projected annually through 2035. The effort, involving key organizations like LAEDC and LARC, will produce a report with strategic goals and policy recommendations to increase nursing education capacity. (2Urban Girls)

3. Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y., is addressing healthcare workforce shortages with its flexible non-credit nursing program, offering certifications that allow participants to quickly enter the workforce. The program provides a fast track for career advancement, including bridging CNAs to become licensed practical nurses. (13 Wham)

4. Elite Nurse Aide Training will graduate dozens of new nurse aides on April 17, bringing its total to over 550 aides trained in the past year, addressing a shortage in Bell County, Texas. Partnered with Dwyer Workforce Development, the program offers scholarships and job placement support, helping students transition to long-term careers in healthcare. (KDH News)

5. The University of Cincinnati’s “Healthcare Exploration Through Patient Care” program offers students paid, hands-on experience as Patient Care Assistants, addressing the healthcare worker shortage. Since 2022, over 300 students have participated, gaining vital skills and enhancing their chances for medical school or other healthcare careers. (Spectrum News1)

6. Western Governors University (WGU) has opened a new clinical learning and simulation center in Indianapolis, aiming to train over 1,000 registered nurses by 2028. With Indiana needing 5,000 more nurses by 2031, the center will centralize training and provide more consistent learning opportunities for students. (13 WHTR)

7. Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine's Primary Care Scholars program offers tuition-free education and a living stipend to students pursuing primary care fields. The initiative, part of a broader effort to boost primary care workers, follows similar models from Johns Hopkins and Geisinger Health. (NJ Biz)

8. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) has awarded $11 million in scholarships since 2019 to medical students specializing in primary care, OBGYN, or psychiatry, aiming to address the state's primary care shortage. The program has helped 144 students, with 54 now practicing in underserved areas. (Bama Buzz)

📊 BY THE NUMBERS

1. More than 1 million noncitizen immigrants, including over 366,000 without legal status, work in critical U.S. health care roles, a JAMA study warns. Experts say Trump's immigration policies risk worsening care shortages, especially in nursing homes and hospitals already struggling to staff up. (NPR)

2. Pennsylvania faces a severe nursing shortage, with over 20,000 empty seats representing the projected shortfall by 2026. Contributing factors include an aging workforce, burnout, and a shortage of nursing educators. (The Conversation)

3. Congress is debating Medicaid funding cuts, with House Republicans approving $880 billion in federal healthcare reductions for 2025, potentially harming hospitals, especially rural and safety-net ones. Moody's warns that Medicaid cuts could lead to more uncompensated care, financial instability, and an increase in uninsured patients. (Becker’s)

4. The ICN’s 2025 report highlights a global nursing crisis, with 48% of nurses leaving the profession and 86% facing workplace violence. The ICN urges long-term investments in nurse wellbeing through its "Caring for Nurses Agenda," emphasizing the need for fair pay, safe conditions, and proper staffing to strengthen global healthcare systems. (Nursing Times)

🏥 HOSPITAL WATCH

1. Billings Clinic and St. Vincent Regional Hospital are expanding residency programs to address the projected U.S. shortage of 86,000 doctors by 2036. These efforts aim to retain physicians locally, especially in hard-hit fields like psychiatry and general surgery, and improve rural healthcare access. (KTVQ)

2. Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage is under fire for long ER waits and misdiagnoses, with patients reporting serious care lapses. Experts cited a regional shortage—only 188 doctors per 100K residents—as a key factor impacting healthcare access. (NBC Palm Springs)

3. Nurses at Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI, rallied for stronger security, safer staffing ratios, and better wages as they negotiate a new contract. Without one since March 23, nurses are prepared to strike if upcoming talks fail. Their push mirrors broader workforce frustrations across Wisconsin hospitals. (Daily Cardinal)

4. In 2024, unannounced inspections revealed severe nurse staffing shortages at Waterbury Hospital, highlighting unsafe conditions in the ICU with a 31% absenteeism rate. Despite claims of compliance, union representatives argue the shortage persists, and Prospect Medical Holdings, the hospital's owner, is facing bankruptcy amid ongoing concerns. (CT Public)

⚕LET’S TALK

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