Advocacy Action Alert: Bipartisan Geriatrics Workforce Legislation Introduced in Senate

This week, Senators Susan Collins (R—Maine) and co-sponsor Senator Bob Casey (D—Pennsylvania) introduced the bipartisan Geriatrics Workforce Improve Act (S.2888) in the U.S. Senate. This bill echoes similar bipartisan legislation proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives that would ensure communities across the U.S. have access to health professionals and other critical supports improving care for us all as we age. With bipartisan support, swift passage of the bill would take a significant step toward training and supporting a healthcare workforce empowered to improve the quality of care for older adults.

This bipartisan, bicameral bill supports two critical objectives. First, it would formally establish funding for the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). Second, it would reestablish the Geriatric Academic Career Awards (GACAs), a previously funded program for developing clinician-educators. By supporting the GWEP and the GACAs, the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act would:

• Foster education and engagement with family caregivers by training providers who can assess and address their care needs and preferences.
• Promote interdisciplinary team-based care by transforming clinical training environments to integrate geriatrics and primary care delivery systems.
• Improve the quality of care delivered to older adults by providing education to families and caregivers on critical care challenges like Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
• Reach underserved and rural communities by ensuring clinician-educators are prepared to train the geriatrics workforce of today and tomorrow.

The Society is supporting the legislation through our membership with the Eldercare Workforce Alliance. We urge members send in their own letter of support to their Senators. Click here to take action and send your letter today!