MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – We’re learning more about the state’s efforts to attract more health care workers to fill a staffing shortage at local hospitals and health centers.
The House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development met Friday to discuss the Health Care Workforce Strategic Plan report. It details the millions of dollars the state has spent over fiscal year 2023, how much money is left and the lack of data to analyze whether the money has been well spent. These can include scholarships, loan forgiveness or repayment, pay raises, continuing education and other incentives. Efforts that are designed to make Vermont an attractive place for health care workers to put down roots.
“We’ve instituted a lot of loan forgiveness programs to try to encourage nurses to stay here and will pay some of their loans off. And it sounds like from the reports that we’re getting that even the hospitals are working with us as well as providing some of those incentives to keep the nurses here in Vermont,” said Rep. Michael Marcotte, R-House Commerce and Economic Development chair.
The report also details a number of solutions policymakers can consider, including simplifying the process for loan forgiveness and providing clearer language in the statute.
