The Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy’s mission is to “inform health workforce policy that advances health.” This week’s blog looks at the workforce data behind recent legislative committee discussions on home health aide training and infrastructure improvements.
Home Health Aide Training Requirements
Home health aides are healthcare paraprofessionals who provide basic health support tasks, such as measuring vitals and simple dressing changes, to older adults and individuals with disabilities through licensed home health agencies. In 2022, the Bowen Center conducted a comprehensive review of state statute for home health aides and other direct care workers to support the Family and Social Services Administration’s Direct Service Workforce Plan. This review identified job functions, populations served, and training requirements for home health aides. Last week, legislation regarding those training requirements moved forward. Senate Bill (SB) 180 passed through the House Public Health Committee on February 10th. This legislation would modify the requirement for home health aide training programs to include at least 75 hours of training and 16 hours of classroom training before providing supervised practical experience. If enacted, training would still be required in select topics, such as infection control and maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment.
For more data on Indiana’s home health aide workforce and other direct care workers, check out the interactive dashboard. New data are anticipated this fall.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Infrastructure
Having enough training opportunities for healthcare students is essential for building Indiana’s health workforce, as most healthcare students are required to complete supervised clinical internships or practical experiences. The Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Indianapolis VAMC) has supported health professional training for over 50 years and partners with many of the universities and colleges across Indiana.
In 2022, the Bowen Center collaborated with Indianapolis VAMC to evaluate its impact on health workforce training in Indiana. Key findings include:
- Indianapolis VAMC commits approximately $90 million annually to supporting Indiana‘s future health professions
- More than 1,800 professionals across Indiana completed some of their training at Indianapolis VAMC.
Indianapolis VAMC plays a critical role in developing and strengthening Indiana’s health workforce. However, space and infrastructure have limited their ability to expand these efforts. SB 225 includes a provision that seeks to alleviate these infrastructure concerns. By modifying the duties of an existing subsidiary of the state department of health to include “enhance[ment] of health care resources and infrastructure for veterans,” an opportunity opens for the state of Indiana to receive federal funding to enhance the Indianapolis VAMC building. This bill also passed out of the Public Health Committee on February 10. We’ll keep tracking this bill and others as they move through the legislative process.