Workforce

The healthcare workforce in Montana is one of the fastest aging groups in the country. As the ‘baby boom’ generation begins its migration towards retirement, there do not appear to be enough younger workers in the state to replace those leaving healthcare. With that reality MHA continues to advocate for initiatives that would strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce both in number and education opportunities.

• Support legislation to further develop the healthcare workforce in rural communities
• Support university system funding for health professions education
• Support legislation enabling licensed health professionals to utilize their full scope of practice
• Support legislation to expand information gathered for licensed health professionals during license renewal process
• Support Residency programs and preserve funding for Graduate Medical Education (GME)
• Preserve 30 WWAMI slots
• Preserve MRPIP program
• Preserve Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and support legislation for entering into additional healthcare professional licensing compacts
• Monitor legislation to decrease workplace violence
• Support pathways for secondary/high school students to engage in work readiness programs and develop stackable credits that can be used to build skills