Workforce Advocacy

The AHA works to advocate for resources and policies, at an organizational or governmental level, that support a robust and healthy workforce. The AHA’s public policy advocacy agenda includes:

Investing in our physician workforce by rejecting reductions to Medicare funding for direct and indirect graduate medical education, along with increasing the number of Medicare-funded residency positions.
Supporting state efforts to expand scope of practice laws, allowing non-physicians to practice at the top of their licenses.
Reauthorizing nursing workforce development programs to support recruitment, retention and advanced education for nurses and other allied health professionals.
Exploring the policy implications associated with the changing roles of providers, due to advancement in technology, including automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and telemedicine.
Supporting efforts to protect the hospital workforce from violence, especially in the emergency department, as well as policies to strengthen clinician resiliency.
Supporting efforts to increase diversity in the health care workforce thorough federal grants to minority-serving institutions for scholarships.

The AHA mobilizes members, state associations and other stakeholders around these issues so that the labor-intensive health field is prepared to handle our nation’s health care needs.

AHA Advocacy Agenda
Fact Sheet: Strengthening the Health Care Workforce
Federal Advisories, Statements and Letters
- House Subcommittee Hearing Examines Rural Broadband and Telehealth
- HRSA invests in Telehealth Broadband Pilot program, funds for Rural Communities Opioid Response Program
The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections From 2018 to 2033
Nursing advocacy
- Policy Statement on Mandated Nurse Staffing Ratios
- Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 – Legislation that provides money for nursing workforce development programs, behavioral health and education training programs and NIH.
- PROSPER Act (HR 4508) – Legislation that would allow APNs parity with other graduate professional students for increased federal loan repayments.
Continuing Medical Education as a Strategic Resource
HRSA Workforce Programs
Scope of Practice
- AONL Advocacy Key Issues: Promote the Value of Nursing

State Initiatives

In addition to federal legislative and policy efforts, state activity continues to address local and regional workforce issues. Working collaboratively on both local and national fronts provides a stronger voice to meet the nation’s health care demands.