Bill Overview
Title: Professional’s Access To Health Workforce Integration Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes a grant program to assist unemployed and underemployed skilled immigrants who are internationally trained health professionals with entering the U.S. health workforce. The grants may be awarded by (1) the Bureau of Health Workforce within the Health Resources and Services Administration, (2) the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, or (3) the Office of Minority Health. Eligible grant recipients include clinical, public health, or health services organizations; community-based organizations; academic institutions; and states and localities.
Sponsors: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Target Audience
Population: Skilled immigrants who are internationally trained health professionals
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill targets internationally trained health professionals who are currently unemployed or underemployed in the U.S.
- There are many skilled immigrants in the health field who face barriers to entering the U.S. healthcare system such as licensing and certification issues.
- This program will help integrate these professionals into the U.S. workforce by providing support through grants.
Reasoning
- The policy targets skilled immigrants who are internationally trained health professionals but are either unemployed or underemployed. This group faces barriers like licensing and certification, which this policy aims to address.
- Many of the individuals in this group live in urban areas where health professional shortages are more pronounced but licensing and certification issues are barriers.
- The program's budget allows for moderate impact on the target population, helping integrate a small to medium segment of this group into the U.S. health workforce.
- The wellbeing scores should illustrate the change in satisfaction with life, mainly due to the professional integration and subsequent financial and social stability.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (Unemployed) (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been struggling to get my nursing license here despite having several years of experience in the Philippines.
- This grant could help ease my transition by providing financial support for exam fees and licensing processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Physician (Underemployed) (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My training and skills are not being utilized and it brings a lot of stress to not work in the field I love.
- I believe if this grant can help me obtain the necessary certifications, my family's life would improve significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Pharmacist (Unemployed) (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a trained pharmacist, I should be contributing more to healthcare, but I am stuck in a lower-level job.
- Support through this grant would be life-changing, helping me re-enter my profession.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Dentist (Underemployed) (New York, NY)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm unable to practice dentistry due to stringent requirements which this policy can help with.
- Being unable to work properly in my profession is demoralizing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Medical Technician (Underemployed) (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There is a constant worry about job stability and matching my skills to the job market.
- If I can receive help to certify my skills, it would greatly stabilize our household income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Nursing Assistant (Employed) (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I want to advance my career and become an RN, but the pathway is challenging without financial aid.
- Any assistance to navigate this pathway would be invaluable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Occupational Therapist (Underemployed) (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With my level of training, it is frustrating to be working in an unrelated field.
- Financial support through the grant could streamline my re-certification in the U.S.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Physiotherapist (Unemployed) (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The inability to practice my profession has been disheartening.
- This grant could help cover examination fees and provide some ease to transition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
Psychologist (Underemployed) (Boston, MA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Working below my potential has been tough; I want to practice fully as a psychologist here.
- The grant can help me meet the licensing demands faster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Radiologist Technician (Unemployed) (Denver, CO)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have dreamt of continuing my work in radiology, but it's been difficult to get started here.
- Grants like these might make it possible for me to enter the medical field again.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $105000000 (Low: $84000000, High: $126000000)
Year 3: $110250000 (Low: $88200000, High: $132300000)
Year 5: $121550000 (Low: $97240000, High: $145860000)
Year 10: $147475000 (Low: $117980000, High: $177363000)
Year 100: $10000000000 (Low: $8000000000, High: $12000000000)
Key Considerations
- The grants will help overcome barriers such as licensing and certification for skilled immigrants.
- Decentralized administration may lead to varied effectiveness based on the capacity of recipient organizations.
- Economic impacts may vary based on healthcare sector absorption capacity of new workforce entrants.