Rep. Dave Loebsack
An amendment added to the House Education and Labor Committee’s version of the health care reform bill would mandate three kinds of support for the direct care workforce, including new core competencies for personal and home care aides.
“The voices of direct care workers are being heard,” says DCA National Advocacy Director Roy Gedat. “Health care reform is providing an opportunity to make some much-needed improvements to direct care jobs.”
The amendment (PDF) was introduced by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) at the encouragement of PHI and the Iowa CareGivers Association.
It calls for:
- Recommendations to federal entities regarding “appropriate and effective means of identifying, promoting, and implementing investments in the direct care workforce necessary to meet the growing demand for long-term health services and supports”;
- Help for states in creating comprehensive workforce development plans for direct care workers, “including efforts to systematically assess, track, and report on workforce adequacy and capacity”; and
- The creation of a Personal Care Attendant Workforce Advisory Panel to develop core competencies and training curricula and resources for personal and home care aides, like the panel initially called for in the Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act of 2008. The panel’s recommendations would serve as the basis for a demonstration project in up to four states.
Elise Nakhnikian
Communications Director
Direct Care Alliance
This is great, finally the direct care workforce is being included in one of health care reform bills coming out of Congress. My only concern is that workers themselves would be included in being on advisory panels and involved in any comprehensive developing planning. Who knows better than the workers themselves.