The "Health Workforce Innovation Act" amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Health Care Workforce Innovation Program . This program is designed to support and develop innovative, community-driven approaches for the education and training of allied health professionals. Its primary goal is to expand the supply of these professionals, especially in underserved communities and rural areas , to meet critical healthcare needs. Eligible entities for grants or contracts include Federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and accredited nonprofit post-secondary vocational programs that train allied health professionals for primary care settings. Applicants must detail their proposed community-driven model, the specific allied health professions to be funded, and how the program will address shortages in their service area. Funds can be used for launching new partnerships, expanding existing ones, providing education and training programs, and investing in necessary equipment or limited renovations. The program prioritizes models that increase the number of individuals from underserved backgrounds in healthcare professions, improve access to medical, behavioral, and oral health care in underserved communities, or demonstrate replicability. Grants are limited to $2,500,000 per period, and recipients must provide periodic reports on their outcomes. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to carry out this initiative.
The "Health Workforce Innovation Act" amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Health Care Workforce Innovation Program . This program is designed to support and develop innovative, community-driven approaches for the education and training of allied health professionals. Its primary goal is to expand the supply of these professionals, especially in underserved communities and rural areas , to meet critical healthcare needs. Eligible entities for grants or contracts include Federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and accredited nonprofit post-secondary vocational programs that train allied health professionals for primary care settings. Applicants must detail their proposed community-driven model, the specific allied health professions to be funded, and how the program will address shortages in their service area. Funds can be used for launching new partnerships, expanding existing ones, providing education and training programs, and investing in necessary equipment or limited renovations. The program prioritizes models that increase the number of individuals from underserved backgrounds in healthcare professions, improve access to medical, behavioral, and oral health care in underserved communities, or demonstrate replicability. Grants are limited to $2,500,000 per period, and recipients must provide periodic reports on their outcomes. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to carry out this initiative.