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New Jersey has been contending with a healthcare
workforce crisis, just as many other states across the
nation. This crisis has prompted headlines such as "If
You Get Sick in NJ, Are There Enough Health Care Workers
to Take Care of You?", published on
nj1015.com.
In response to the issues faced by healthcare workers,
those seeking care, job seekers, and many more, a
nine-bill package is expected to be considered by New
Jersey lawmakers early next year. Alexis Bailey, Vice
President of Government Affairs, New Jersey Business
& Industry Association, stated that the proposed
package would help attract individuals into healthcare
professions and ease regulatory burdens while maintaining
the highest level of care for residents. She was quoted
on
nj1015.com saying, "This is a win-win for
business, the health care industry, job seekers across
the state and for state government."
Proposed legislation includes:
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A4617 - Would require the New Jersey
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD)
to identify and recruit unemployed individuals for
employment in healthcare facilities.
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A4618 - Would create an online job portal
for behavioral healthcare workers and an online
internship and externship portal for healthcare
students.
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A4614 - Would modify the Nursing Faculty
Loan Redemption Program to incentivize people to become
nursing teachers.
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A4613 - Would appropriate $10 million to
rename, extend eligibility, and make various other
changes to the Primary Care Practitioner Loan
Redemption Program for primary care physicians,
pediatric doctors, psychiatrists, and any other types
of physicians identified by the Department of Labor
(DOL) as being in short supply.
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A4615 - Would require the state to foster
development and implementation of graduate medical
education programs in behavioral health care.
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A4616 - Would allow for the passage of a
Certified Respiratory Therapist examination to qualify
for licensure as a respiratory therapist.
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A4619 - Would codify and extend
authorization for certain out-of-state health
practitioners and recent graduates of healthcare
training programs to practice in New Jersey.
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A4620 - Would provide for enrollment as NJ
FamilyCare providers in conjunction with licensure
applications; and would require health insurance
carriers to determine provider enrollment within six
months of application.
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A4621 - Would require the issuance of
reports on certain information and data on the
processing of applications for professional and
occupational licenses, and mandate review of training
and call intake in the Division of Consumer Affairs.
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