The National Governors Association (NGA) competitively selected six states — Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Oklahoma — to participate in a new project to advance capacity to use health workforce data to inform policymaking and support state priorities. With greater information about the current and future labor pool of health care providers, state leaders can pursue policies to support a workforce to meet the demand for services.
The availability of health care services is critical to the economic wellbeing of a community. Data can be a critical driver to help states identify gaps in and solutions to their health workforce needs. With additional data about the practice patterns of providers, states will better be able to assess strategies that work and where they should invest in new policies.
In many states, the geographic maldistribution of health care providers is striking across urban, suburban and rural areas. Many states participate in federal programs to support increasing the number of primary care, behavioral health and dental providers in rural settings or develop their own state-based programs. However, they require more information to effectively evaluate the success of these initiatives. Using data to identify shortages and maldistribution and to develop strategies that address those challenges will help states to pursue data-informed policy approaches.
Representatives from each of the state teams will join NGA, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and other national experts for a kickoff meeting Nov. 19-20 in Washington, D.C.
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