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Attempts Being Made to Avert a Geriatric Healthcare Crisis
By
Michael A. Piekarz
Staff Writer
U.S.
Senator Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., introduced new legislation that
addresses concerns that the nation’s healthcare system will
be unable to adequately meet the needs of America’s burgeoning
senior population.
The Caring for an Aging America Act (S 2708) aims to avert an anticipated crisis
in providing healthcare for a senior population that is projected to almost double
over the next 25 years.
According a recent report released by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), America
is not prepared to meet the social and healthcare needs of future seniors.
“When our mothers and fathers and grandparents reach their golden years,
they deserve quality care for their health and long-term care needs,” said
Senator Boxer. “But the medical and health community is already struggling
to meet the demand for geriatric healthcare and support services, and the need
for trained professionals is only growing. This legislation will provide incentives
to help encourage qualified practitioners to join the geriatrics and gerontology
fields.”
The new legislation provides up to $130 million in federal funding over five
years to attract and retain trained healthcare professionals and direct-care
workers through education loan forgiveness and career advancement opportunities.
Under the bill, educational loan repayment would be exchanged for a service commitment
to the aging population. The Geriatric and Gerontology Loan Repayment Program
would be established for physicians, physician assistants, advance practice nurses,
psychologists and social workers who complete specialty training in geriatrics
or gerontology and agree to provide full-time clinical practice and service to
older adults for a minimum of two years. "
Also included is expanded eligibility for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment
Program to include registered nurses who complete specialty training and provide
nursing services to older adults in long-term care settings.
Loan forgiveness programs to encourage an increase in geriatric care workers
was one of the solutions proposed by John Murphy, M.D., president-elect of the
American Geriatric Society at recent Senate committee hearings examining the
IOM report.
“There are a number of solutions to the provider shortage,” said
Dr. Murphy. “These include federal and state loan forgiveness programs
for providers pursuing geriatrics training, expansion of funding for Title VII
geriatric health professions for faculty and clinician training, and realigning
reimbursement to provide adequate coverage for necessary and cost-effective services
such as geriatric assessment and care coordination.”
Other bill provisions expand career advancement opportunities for nursing and
direct care workers by offering specialty training in long-term care services
through the existing Career Ladders Grants Program. The measure would also create
a Health and Long-Term Care Workforce Advisory Panel for an Aging America to
examine and advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary
of Labor and Congress on workforce issues related to health and long-term care
for the aging population.
The bill may also help reduce costs to the Medicare program. Proper geriatric
care could reduce hospital, nursing home and homecare costs by at least 10 percent
a year, saving $267 billion in 2020, according to the Alliance for Aging Research.
“Our healthcare system is already struggling to find and retain qualified
workers to meet this growing demand. Our legislation will help recruit, train
and keep healthcare workers who are dedicated to providing quality healthcare
for this aging population,” said Senator Susan Collins, D-Maine, who co-authored
the bill with Boxer.
Senior advocacy groups were quick to endorse the legislation. The American Geriatrics
Society, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, The Alliance
for Retired Americans, National Council on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association
and AARP all threw their support behind the bill.
AARP’s letter of support stated that the legislation would take some important
first steps to help ensure that the health and long-term care workforces are
sufficient to meet the needs of America’s aging population.
The bipartisan bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions for further action.
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