The Direct Care Alliance has asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to support a direct care worker amendment to the Senate’s version of the health care reform bill. The amendment calls for including the direct care workforce as a “high priority” focus area for the National Health Care Workforce Commission.
In a December 15 letter (PDF), the DCA and 35 other organizations asked Senator Reid to include the amendment in the final version of the Senate’s health care reform bill. Five more organizations joined the list of endorsers (PDF) after the letter was sent.
Sponsored by Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), the amendment would add direct care workers to the list of health care workers to be studied by a National Healthcare Workforce Commission to be created under the Patient Protection and Affordable Choices Act. This no-cost amendment will ensure that the commission will review current and projected needs involving the direct care workforce, providing comprehensive recommendations to Congress and the Administration on how best to align direct care workforce resources with our national needs.
we support the direct care workforce
I certainly support this as an individual. I will be getting approval from the Board of Friends of Residents of Long Term Care to provide an organizational endorsement and have that to you by Sunday night.
As the Executive Director of the American Association for Long Term Care Nursing, I am acutely aware of the challenges faced in recruiting and retaining direct care workers and the need to address the needs of this population to a greater degree than what has been shown in the past. AALTCN endorses this letter and supports this important effort.
Charlotte, thank you soo very much! I added you to the list!
William Taylor: Thank you! Are you endorsing as an individual or as an organization or both? Let me know. I can be reached at lvega@directcareallliance.org
This letter and the direct care workforce has my support!
Hello, Leonila. The MaturityWorks Alliance is in full support of Senators Casey and Kohl’s amendment that designates the direct care workforce as a “High Priority” research area for the proposed National Healthcare Workforce Commission. On behalf of the MaturityWorks Alliance – Barbara Hoenig, Chair
Melinda Adams, Public Policy Steering Committee Co-Chair
MaturityWorks Alliance
Thank you so very much! We have included you!