HR4407-119

What This Bill Does

The National Nursing Workforce Center Act adds a state and regional nursing workforce center pilot to title VII of the Public Health Service Act. HHS may run a two-year pilot, starting within one year, to establish new or enhance existing state-based nursing workforce centers, evaluate their effect, and test public-private partnerships. Grants last two years and require nonfederal cash or in-kind contributions of at least $1 for every $4 in federal funds. Eligible entities include state agencies, state boards of nursing, 501(c)(3) organizations, community-based organizations, schools of nursing, and other approved schools or programs. HHS must distribute grants geographically and prioritize entities proposing statewide services, expertise in state nursing workforce issues, a history convening stakeholders, and partnerships. The bill also amends health workforce analysis authority so at least one grant or contract may go to an entity focused on nursing workforce data and state-center support. Funded analysis can produce regional and national supply, demand, and education-capacity reports, peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, policy briefs, program evaluations, evidence-based strategies to address shortages, maldistribution work, rapid data analysis, and technical assistance for standardized data collection and training.

Who Benefits and How

State nursing workforce centers benefit from pilot grants to build or expand data and coordination capacity. Nursing schools benefit from workforce data and strategies that identify education and training capacity needs. Nurses in shortage areas benefit if better workforce data leads to targeted recruitment, retention, and maldistribution strategies. Health workforce researchers benefit from grants or contracts for nursing supply, demand, education, and rapid analysis work.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must implement the pilot within one year, distribute grants, and oversee evaluation. Pilot grantees must provide at least $1 in nonfederal contributions for every $4 of federal funds. Nursing workforce data centers must standardize data collection, analysis, reporting, and technical assistance. State nursing partners must coordinate across boards, schools, community organizations, and employers to support statewide services.

Key Provisions

• Creates a two-year state-based nursing workforce center pilot program beginning within one year.
• Requires grantees to contribute at least $1 nonfederal for every $4 in federal funds.
• Prioritizes statewide nursing workforce expertise, stakeholder convening history, and partnerships.
• Expands health workforce analysis grants for nursing data, shortage strategies, publications, evaluation, technical assistance, and rapid research.