Support Grows for Geriatricians Loan Forgiveness Act
New Haven, CT – As Older American Month draws to a close, support grows for the Geriatrics Loan Forgiveness Act (H.R. 1457), introduced by Congresswomen Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn. -3) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). Nearly two dozen national organizations – members of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, a coalition of national organizations that have joined together to address the immediate and future workforce crisis in caring for an aging Americans – voiced strong support for the legislation, which aims to address the national shortage of geriatric specialist by allowing these specialists to participate in the existing National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, encouraging more health care professionals to be certified in geriatrics. This program currently forgives up to $25,000 on behalf of an individual for the first two years of obligated service.
"With a growing senior population it is critical that we have the healthcare professionals to effectively care for them. The Geriatrics Loan Forgiveness Act would help avoid this potential shortfall by providing important incentives for health care graduates to enter geriatric specialties and I am pleased to have the support of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance," said DeLauro
The nation faces a potential shortfall in eldercare workers. In 2011 – just two years from now – the first baby boomers will turn 65. By 2030, the number of Americans 65 and older will have nearly doubled, to over 70 million. Yet there are currently fewer than 9,000 geriatric physicians practicing in the United States, far below the 36,000 or more needed to effectively care for the nation's booming population of seniors by 2030. The numbers are similar across health care disciplines, including nursing, social work, psychology, pharmacy and psychiatry.
Below is the letter of support from the Eldercare Workforce Alliance.
May 22, 2009
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
2413 Rayburn HOB
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative DeLauro:
The undersigned members of the newly formed Eldercare Workforce Alliance (EWA)—a coalition of 28 national organizations representing older adults and the healthcare professionals, direct-care workers, and family caregivers who care for them—strongly endorse H.R. 1457, the Geriatrics Loan Forgiveness Act of 2009. We commend you and your colleagues, Representatives Ros-Lehtinen, McGovern, and Klein of Florida, for introducing this important legislation, which amends the Public Health Service Act to include geriatrics healthcare training under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
With the rapid growth of our older population, particularly those over age 85, who have the highest per capita utilization of healthcare services and who often have multiple, chronic health problems, there is a critical need for healthcare professionals with specialized training in the care of older adults. Currently, geriatrics specialists are in critically short supply. The undersigned organizations believe this legislation will aid in the recruitment and retention of physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals with geriatrics expertise, by helping to remove some of the financial barriers to obtaining additional geriatrics training.
The Geriatrics Loan Forgiveness Act of 2009 addresses a number of significant findings in the 2008 Institute of Medicine report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce, which calls for immediate investments in ensuring an adequate eldercare workforce, and upon which the EWA's principles and priorities are based.
We appreciate your leadership in addressing the geriatrics healthcare professional workforce shortage and stand ready to work with you and your colleagues in advocating for this important legislation, which will help to improve the quality of healthcare for older adults.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Dawson,
Co-Convener
Nancy E. Lundebjerg,
Co-Convener
On behalf of the members of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance who endorse HR 1457:
Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
American Academy of Nursing
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
American Geriatrics Society
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living
American Medical Directors Association
American Nurses Association
American Psychological Association
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
American Society on Aging
Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations
Council on Social Work Education
Direct Care Alliance
Family Caregiver Alliance
Gerontological Society of America
National Association for Geriatric Education
National Council on Aging
NCB Capital Impact/THE GREEN HOUSE® Project
NCCNHR – The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
PHI – Quality Care through Quality Jobs
Visiting Nurse Associations of America