Across New Hampshire, severe workforce shortages are impacting Granite Staters’ access to health care. Patients are facing lengthy wait times and traveling long distances to get the care they need when they need it. With many job vacancies across the state, there remains a strong need to invest in programs that foster a future health care workforce within the Granite State.
SB 244 builds on the New Hampshire Health Care Workforce Coalition's work to address the health care workforce crisis in New Hampshire that impacts access to quality and timely health care for Granite Staters.
About the Legislation
SB 244 aims to increase access to care by growing the state’s health care workforce. This includes key investments in programs and initiatives that attract, train, and retain health care professionals here in the Granite State. Some of the programs include:
- Health Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention Hub: Creates a Public-Private Health Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention Hub to develop a pipeline of skilled health care professionals. This partnership would help ensure all communities—particularly those in rural and underserved areas—have access to essential health services.
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NH Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Pipeline Investments: Provides training and mentorship opportunities to NH youth to encourage middle and high school students to work in health care.
- Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Increases: Rate increases help health care providers recruit and retain workers and treat more patients in need.
Investments in these initiatives, among many others, will help ensure that every New Hampshire resident has access to high-quality care, both now and in the future.
New Futures has worked alongside the New Hampshire Health Care Workforce Coalition since 2018 to address systemic health care workforce shortages that limit access to care for New Hampshire patients.
Take Action
Email the Committee
Share Your Story - Patient
Share Your Story - Health Care Worker
Spread the Word: One-Pager
Download and share the NH Health Care Workforce Coalition's one-pager on SB 244: Investing in NH's Health Care Workforce
Legislation Status
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on SB 244 on Wednesday, February 5. Next, the committee will hold an executive session to vote on a recommendation for the bill. There's still time to email committee members to urge them to support the bill!
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