AHA Voices Support for H.R.7744, the Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act

November 9, 2022

Dear Representatives Guthrie and Dean:

On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, including approximately 700 skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs), our clinician partners — including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups, the American Hospital Association (AHA) is pleased to support your legislation, H.R.7744, the Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act.

The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has offered SNFs key flexibilities, particularly regarding workforce and personnel, to ensure they could continue providing high quality care to patients. One of these waivers allows nurse aides in these facilities to stay in their roles beyond the required four months and for those additional hours to count towards 75-hour state-approved training-and-competency evaluation programs. The Building America’s Health Care Workforce Act would extend these policies for an additional two years following the end of the COVID-19 PHE. This extension would allow SNFs to retain their workforce, while also providing nurse aides with job experience needed to become Certified Nursing Assistants.

At a time when health care providers are navigating the unprecedented financial challenges caused by workforce shortages and rising inflation, your legislation would help provide much needed stability and access to care. Thank you for your ongoing leadership and efforts to support our nation’s hospitals and health systems.

Sincerely,

/s/

Stacey Hughes
Executive Vice President