Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act

Workforce Expansion and Integration: The bill provides grants to help internationally educated healths care professionals integrate into and expand the health care workforce (Section 2, subsection a, paragraph 1).

Support for Underserved Communities: The Secretary is directed to give priority to projects that support recruitment and retention in communities experiencing gaps in their existing workforce or in rural communities (Section 2, subsection c).

Career Advancement Opportunities: Funds can be used for system-level improvements such as developing career ladders, leadership development, and funding continuing education, examinations, and licensing costs (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 1, subparagraph B).

Individualized Professional Support: The bill allows for individual-level improvements such as support for the licensing process, English as a second language courses, and assistance in obtaining overseas academic or training records (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 1, subparagraph C).

Financial and Employment Stability: Grants can fund individualized supportive services for professionals, which may include support for living expenses, health care, or transportation (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 1, subparagraph C, clause vii).

Administrative Limitations: Eligible entities are restricted from using more than 10 percent of grant funds for costs associated with the administration of the projects (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 2).

Strict Funding Requirements: Each eligible entity is required to use at least 20 percent of the grant funds specifically for system-level improvement projects (Section 2, subsection d, paragraph 3).

Funding Restrictions: Grant funds must be used only to supplement, and not supplant, existing funds used to address the recruitment, training, and advancement of these professionals (Section 2, subsection e).