Inside Health Policy recently featured insights from Amanda Pears Kelly, ACU Chief Executive Officer, on the potentially devastating impacts of the government shutdown on federal healthcare workforce programs.
The wide-ranging article from Dorothy Mills-Gregg featured ACU’s call to Congress to immediately restore government funding for vital health extender programs, including the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), community health centers (CHCs), the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program, and Title VII and Title VIII Workforce Development programs. Mandatory funding authorizations for each program expired on September 30.
“On top of significant policy changes looming, clinicians are now being forced to reconcile with a federal shutdown disrupting operations and leaving us in limbo,” Pears Kelly said. “Lawmakers have repeatedly reauthorized critical public health extenders, including the NHSC, Nurse Corps, THCGME, and CHC funding, because they help place clinicians in communities where the need is greatest.”
The shutdown further exacerbates existing funding challenges for the NHSC, which has already faced significant underfunding despite a more than half-century of success, having placed more than 80,000 clinicians since 1972, with 86% staying in shortage areas and more than half serving CHCs.
“Restore funding and let clinicians do their jobs — a shutdown shouldn’t shut out patients,” stated Pears Kelly.
