Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPAHCA) provides funding for training health care professionals.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPAHCA), signed into law by President Obama in March 2010, includes several provisions for improving access to health care services and promoting preventive health care. The goal of these provisions is to shift the health care delivery system from a disease focused health care model to a wellness based model that promotes and supports healthy lifestyle.
In order to accomplish this goal, more emphasis will be placed on developing primary care services, especially in underserved rural and intercity areas. There are not enough primary care physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to meet needs in these areas.
The PPAHCA provides more than $30 billion in grants over the next five years for education and development of the health care workforce throughout the United States. These grants are managed by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Primary Care Providers
Primary care providers give basic health care services.
Primary care providers are physicians and nurse practitioners (registered nurses who have additional training in diagnosis and treatment of routine or minor health care problems) who deliver basic health care services in a clinic setting.
They are the first point of contact for most health care needs and treat a wide variety of medical problems such as colds, high blood pressure and stomach problems. They also provide annual physical examinations, give vaccinations and coach their patients on healthy lifestyle choices.
Workforce grants for primary care are available to universities, training programs and medical facilities to help cover the cost of educating more primary care providers including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants.
Individual grants, loans, and scholarships are available for people already working in health care for training in primary care and public health (services to protect the health of a community, including immunization, sanitation and preventive care programs).
Direct Care Workers
Direct care workers help people with disabilities and the elderly.
Direct care workers provide hands-on, long-term care and personal assistance to those who are elderly or are living with disabilities. Direct care worker help patients in assisted living facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private homes and day treatment programs. Direct care workers are in high demand and this is expected to continue as the baby boomer population ages. The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute estimates that more than four million direct care workers will be needed by 2018.
Grants are available to community colleges and community-based training programs for nursing aide and home health aide training programs. Some of these programs will provide education for low income workers or those on public assistance.
School-based Health Programs
School-based health programs help children who would not otherwise receive health care
PPAHCA provides $50 million a year for school-based health programs. These programs provide primary care, social services, mental health services and preventive care to children throughout the United States who would not otherwise receive health care services or who are eligible for medical assistance or state child health plans.
The law requires that school-based programs comply with state and local laws regarding parental notification and prohibits these programs from performing abortions. The school-based programs must also provide matching funds up to 20 percent of the federal grant total.
Dental Health Care Services
PPAHCA provides grants to train dentists and dental hygienists for rural and inner city areas.
Schools of dentistry, public or nonprofit hospitals or other public nonprofit health care organizations may be eligible for grants to develop training programs for general, pediatric and public dentistry. Programs will train dentists and dental hygienists. In addition, grants will be available to develop faculty specializing in pediatric and general dentistry for dental schools.
The goal of the dental care program is to train dentist for rural areas, those from low-income areas or from under-represented minorities with the intentional that these health care professionals will return to their communities to provide needed services.
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