Wyden Introduces Bill to Make Health Care Apprenticeship Programs More Accessible to Address Labor Shortage

The American Hospital Association reported that America will face a shortage of approximately 100,000 critical health care workers by 2028

Washington, D.C. — As America faces nationwide health care worker shortages, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill that would make it easier for health care employers to create new registered apprenticeship programs to train the next generation of health professionals. 

“America is desperate for more health care providers after the burnout of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wyden said. “Apprenticeship programs are instrumental in getting new workers a foot in the door by giving them the hands-on experience they need in a clinical setting. Right now, labor agencies aren’t reviewing applications for new programs with the urgency this crisis demands. Expediting the process will create more opportunities for talented people to enter the medical field.”

Under the Department of Labor’s Healthcare Apprenticeships, there are programs for people aspiring to be medical assistants, dental assistants, pharmacy technicians, behavioral health paraprofessionals, registered nurses and home health aides, among other critical providers delivering high quality care to patients nationwide. 

Wyden’s Fast Track Apprenticeship Act would update and accelerate federal and state labor agencies’ healthcare apprenticeship application process by:

  • Requiring federal and state labor agencies to make determinations on health care apprenticeship applications within 45 days of receipt. 
  • Requiring the Department of Labor to digitize apprenticeship agreement forms, modernize the application process and enhance accessibility for applicants. 

“The Hospital Association of Oregon appreciates Senator Wyden’s efforts to grow the health care workforce by reducing barriers to establishing apprenticeship programs. When planning for our hospitals’ workforce pipelines, apprenticeships are an option that can increase diversity and allow workers to live and work in their communities while receiving their training. To mitigate the capacity challenges and prevent future crises — both for the workforce and for patients — there must be intentional efforts to develop innovative solutions, which should include apprenticeships,” wrote Becky Hultberg, President & CEO of the Hospital Association of Oregon.

Senator Wyden has been a strong advocate in the Senate for addressing the health care workforce shortage. In August, Wyden introduced bipartisan legislation to provide federal support for community-led education and training for health care workers in rural and underserved communities. In October, he urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to finance, support and expand the availability of addiction medicine specialists. In May, Wyden released proposals to expand and improve the distribution of Medicare-supported residency programs to rural areas and specialties in shortage. 

The bill text is here.

A one-page summary is here.