Easing vaccine mandates, offering debt forgiveness and increased funding for research and training were touted by experts as ways to mitigate healthcare worker shortages, WebMD reported Feb. 14.
A group of experts advised a Senate subcommittee on ways to boost numbers of healthcare workers for the future, given that research shows there will be a shortage of 124,000 physicians by 2034.
Reynold Verret, PhD, president of Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, said recruiting and training a diverse workforce is key to providing equitable health outcomes. He suggested that the government double the Pell Grant for low-income students, provide subsidized tuition for historically Black colleges and universities, and invest $5 billion to expand Title III programs.
"In order to improve health outcomes, to address our nation's doctor shortage, we have to do more not only to encourage providers to serve in rural and underserved communities, but also to reduce those existing barriers," Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said. She also argued for pausing student loan interest during physicians' residencies.
Another solution argued for by Rachel Greszler from conservative think tank Heritage Foundation was eliminating vaccine mandates. Despite only 1 to 2 percent of workers leaving over vaccine mandates, she argued that across millions of healthcare workers, 2 percent is a large number.