America’s Blood Centers (ABC) recently joined a laboratory workforce letter, led by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), in support of section 212 of the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act. The laboratory workforce letter, sent to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, urged Congress to “authorize funding for a workforce innovation grant program within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for community health centers and rural health clinics to carry out innovative, community-driven models to educate and train a wide range of allied health professionals, such as laboratory professionals…The section amends existing law to authorize the Secretary to award grants and contracts to provide allied health training opportunities for high school students. This change would allow allied health training programs to inform high school students of allied health careers, including a range of skilled positions serving patients in clinical and public health laboratories, and available financial aid…This legislation represents an acknowledgement of the vital roles allied health professionals play in these systems.” The Senate HELP Committee approved the bill this week and the bill will now go to the full Senate for a vote. ABC previously supported a laboratory workforce letter sent to members of the Senate in April by ASCP led coalition.
