On Tuesday, Reps. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced H.R. 3637, the Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act. The bill, which is endorsed by ASAHP and modeled after the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development program, would authorize funding to increase educational opportunities in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology. ASAHP has been working with the bipartisan sponsors of this legislation and industry associations. ASAHP’s support for the bill is noted in the Members press release following the introduction of this bill. Rep. Rush is expected to offer this legislative language as an amendment during tomorrow’s House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health markup of H.R. 2781, the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act of 2019.
The Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act of 2019 may be accessed here, when available.
Rep. Rush’s press release may be accessed here.