White House unveils $1.5B investment to train more than 22,700 new healthcare providers

White House unveils $1.5B investment to train more than 22,700 new healthcare providers American Rescue Plan-funded investments will yield "the largest field strength in history" for the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps and the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Program, according to the White House. Dave Muoio FierceHealthcare

The White House is investing $1.5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to add more than 22,700 new providers to the country’s National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps and Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Program.

Announced by Vice President Kamala Harris Monday afternoon, the new money will fuel “the largest field strength in history for these programs and a record number of skilled doctors, dentists, nurses and behavioral health providers,” according to a release from the Biden administration.

Each of the three programs provides healthcare scholarship and loan repayment to students in exchange for a service commitment in underserved communities. According to the administration, more than 23.6 million people in the U.S. receive their care from National Health Service Corps and Nurse Corps clinicians.

The money is a response to the dual challenges of a global pandemic and a widespread shortage of healthcare labor. Per the White House, the country will likely be short nearly 60,000 primary care doctors, dentists and psychiatrists during the next decade and will need an estimated 158,000 new nurses to graduate every year during the same period. ...

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