Senate Help Committee Considers Primary Care and Health Workforce Legislation
On September 21, 2023, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) held a markup of legislative proposals intended to boost primary care access and reauthorize programs addressing maternal morbidity and mortality and pediatric cancer research. The committee voted in favor of all four bills.
Notably, S. 2840, the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act, would provide over $26 billion in funding to expand primary care and address the health care workforce shortage, including: funding primarily to enable community health centers including to expand dental care and mental health care in their facilities; funding for scholarships and debt forgiveness for about 20,000 dentists, doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who commit to working in underserved areas; and, investment in training and workforce programs for dentists and dental assistants.
The video recording of the hearing is available here.
Impact on General Dentistry: The Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act is noteworthy given the investment in dental care noted above. This bill is intended to address the primary care crisis and major shortages of dentists, primary care doctors, nurses, and other health care jobs. The legislation states specifically the intention of expanding dental care in rural and underserved areas. While Chairman Bernie Sanders received three Republican votes, Ranking Member Bill Cassidy led all other Republicans in opposition.
Notably, S. 2840, the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act, would provide over $26 billion in funding to expand primary care and address the health care workforce shortage, including: funding primarily to enable community health centers including to expand dental care and mental health care in their facilities; funding for scholarships and debt forgiveness for about 20,000 dentists, doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who commit to working in underserved areas; and, investment in training and workforce programs for dentists and dental assistants.
The video recording of the hearing is available here.
Impact on General Dentistry: The Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act is noteworthy given the investment in dental care noted above. This bill is intended to address the primary care crisis and major shortages of dentists, primary care doctors, nurses, and other health care jobs. The legislation states specifically the intention of expanding dental care in rural and underserved areas. While Chairman Bernie Sanders received three Republican votes, Ranking Member Bill Cassidy led all other Republicans in opposition.