Columbus Standard

Washington D.C. – U.S. Congressman Greg Pence (R-IN) recently spoke at a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing focused on the “Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Health and Human Services Budget.” During the hearing, Congressman Pence highlighted the critical issue of workforce shortages in the medical field.

Pence expressed his concerns about the impact of shortages on various healthcare facilities, stating, "Financial instability of our nation’s health care industry is at a breaking point, and for me the focus needs to be on Human Resources." He also emphasized the challenges faced by professionals and patients in his district due to the lack of trained workforce.

Acknowledging the efforts made by the State of Indiana to address the issue, Pence mentioned initiatives taken by institutions like Ivy Tech and Hanover College to enhance nursing education programs. However, he stressed the need for federal support, stating, "While Indiana has rightly taken steps to address the problem, we need the federal government to be a partner in these efforts."

Pence also raised concerns about proposed regulations, specifically minimum staffing ratios for nursing homes, cautioning against the potential negative impact on already struggling facilities. He questioned the feasibility of implementing such regulations, considering the current staffing challenges faced by nursing homes, particularly in rural areas.

In conclusion, Congressman Pence called for bipartisan solutions to support nursing home residents and urged the administration to reconsider the proposed policies in light of the existing workforce shortages.