Lawmakers passed a plan last week to get solutions to address Illinois’ healthcare workforce shortage.
The proposal from Rep. Anna Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, creates a task force with appointees from the state’s health agencies and stakeholders from across the healthcare spectrum.
Stava-Murray told colleagues the group would specifically look at ways to improve recruitment and retention strategies, enhance the state’s licensure system, expand workforce pipeline programs, reduce violence against healthcare workers, improve workforce diversity and ease access to healthcare careers.
“As many of us know, Illinois is facing a critical healthcare workforce crisis that is putting patient access to care at serious risk,” she said.
The task force must submit its report and recommendations to the General Assembly within a year of its first meeting.
The proposal passed unanimously and heads to Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature.
In other business, the House approved a plan from Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, to establish a task force within the Department of Public Health to develop a plan promoting collaboration among physicians, veterinarians, and other scientific professionals.
Specifically, the group will examine the broad health challenges related to diseases that spread between animals and humans, as well as bacteria or viruses that become resistant to medication.
Both proposals head to Gov. JB Pritzker for final approval.