Health Care Workforce Legislation Establishes Advisory Council

Health Care Workforce Center Advisory Council Meeting was held May 13, 2009

Read presentation from first meeting PPT

Heather Boulger, Executive Director of the Berkshire REB represents the Association on the Council

Health Care Workforce Legislation Filed

With job vacancies in health care at an all time high the Association joined with legislative leadership to file Health care workforce legislation developed by the Roundtable and working group. It is now available to be distributed and endorsed by employers, educational and workforce organizations and the leadership of the administration and legislature.

This legislation was filed with sponsors: Michael J. Rodrigues, Robert M. Koczera, Daniel E. Bosley, Susan C. Tucker, John D. Keenan, David M. Torrisi, Antonio F. D. Cabral, Thomas M. McGee, John F. Quinn, Christopher N. Speranzo, Richard T. Moore, Peter J. Koutoujian and Stephen R. Canessa and incorporated the principles and recommendations of the White Paper.

Read the Act: H1162 - An Act Relative to the Health Care Workforce

Read the Facts:Fact Sheet

Testimony before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing was provided by:

Don Gillis, Executive Director, Massachusetts Workforce Board Association

Paul Levy, President & Chief Executive Officer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Enid Eckstein, Vice President Health Systems, 1199 SEIU United HealthCare Workers East

Jerry Rubin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Vocational Services-Boston

In addition, the Patrick Murray Transition Working Groups focused their efforts on these issues. Read their reports:

Workforce Development and Training Working Group Report PDF

Health Care Working Group Report - Excerpt- Addressing Capacity Issues PDF

"There is a well-documented shortage of primary care providers, physicians, nurses and other health care workers in the Massachusetts health care system. Implementation of the new Health Care Reform Law will only intensify this dilemma."

The Health Care Workforce Development Imperative
A Strategy for Change—White Paper, 2006

Health Care Workforce Strategy Roundtable

Senator Richard Moore addresses Health Care Roundtable

April 25, 2006 at Metro West Medical Center Legislative, workforce, education and health care industry leaders to met to chart a new course for health care workforce development. Senator Richard Moore, Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and prime author of the Health Care Reform bill, provided attendees with a framework for the workforce impacts of the new bill. Navjeet Singh, Center for Research and Evaluation, Commonwealth Corporation and Andy Sum, Center for Labor Market Studies presented the changing occupational structure and job vacancy report on the health care industry. Fred Dedrick from the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board outlined the strategic partnerships Governor Ed Rendell has initiated in Pennsylvania. The more than 70 health care, education, labor and workforce leaders began outlining the key steps for a Policy Action Plan to be presented to candidates for Governor.

Andy Sum, CLMS                                                                 Fred Dedrick, PA WIB

Read the presentations from the Roundtable:

Notes from Roundtable Presentations Word DOC...

The Structure of the Healthcare Sector and Healthcare Occupations in Massachusetts , Navjeet Singh powerpoint...

Job Vacancy Characteristics in Health Care in Massachusetts, Andrew Sum powerpoint...

Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers, Fred Dedrick powerpoint...

Other Efforts in Massachusetts and Information:

Mayor's Task Force on Improving Access to Primary Care in Boston: A final report.

Controlling Health Spending in Massachusetts: A policy brief on Healthcare spending.

Career Moves: A listing of Career options in the Health sector including background, pathways, description, demand, and wages information.

Ensuring an Educated Nursing Workforce for the Commonwealth: A Report by the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing in support of Baccalaureate and Higher Education in Nursing in Massachusetts

The Health Care Workforce Initiative

Health care employers operate in every workforce region of the Commonwealth. It is essential to understand the environmental factors that impact nursing homes and hospitals to determine what factors the Association could systematically affect through strategic planning and advocacy.

The health care industry is highly focused on improving the quality of patient care. They are also concerned with an increase in industry regulations, smaller operating margins, a growing aging population needing health care services, and a shrinking labor market that requires significant investment in basic skill development and English-language competency in addition to technical training.

Coordinating connections among workforce development and health care employers can increase statewide advocacy with the Legislature and State leadership on funding decisions and policy development. It would also provide opportunity to broaden the current discussions around health care financing and regulations to incorporate perspective on their impact on workforce development. read more....

Shaping a Strategic Approach to Massachusetts’ Health Care Workforce Crisis:Snapshot of Health Care Workforce Issues. Read snapshot...