Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)
San Joaquin County alone has 16 health professional shortage areas, statewide shortage of over 500,000 health care workers
New legislation creates “health investment zones” with tax credits, incentives for providers that invest in at-risk areas
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced new legislation to bring health care providers back to Valley communities facing crippling doctor shortages. Led with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Harder’s Health Investment Zones Act creates Health Investment Zones (HIZs) in at-risk areas with severe shortages or vulnerable communities and establishes key incentives to attract and retain providers where they’re needed most.
Heartless health care cuts are making doctor shortages so much worse:
- San Joaquin County, which has 16 health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), is on the front lines of chronic provider shortages that amount to over 500,000 statewide.
- These shortages make it harder for low-income, disabled, and vulnerable communities to find access to care, leading to more hospitalizations and worse health care outcomes.
- Federal cuts to Medi-Cal and health care premiums are expected to kick thousands off their insurance, double monthly payments, and close down clinics.
“This bill is a promise to reinvest in the very communities that Washington is trying to pull out of,” said Rep. Harder. “By creating new Health Investment Zones right here in the Valley, we can close provider gaps and unlock an entire arsenal of tools and support for the families that need it most. Our families deserve reliable access to affordable health care, and that’s exactly what this bill does.”
HIZ’s are already a proven method for reducing provider shortages and improving long-term health care outcomes. By 2016, Maryland’s Health Enterprise Zone model had reduced more than 18,000 inpatient stays in three years and generated an estimated $108 million in net savings. Harder’s Health Investment Zones Act takes that model and scales it across the federal government.
How the Health Investment Zones Act closes shortage areas:
- Establishes the HIZ Program – 10-year designations in areas with measurable health disparities based on income, life expectancy, or provider shortages.
- Attracts and Retains Providers – Expands provider tax credits, wage and service incentives, and student loan repayment programs for HIZ providers.
- Promotes Better Health Outcomes – Incentivizes high-value preventive services and prioritizes improving outcomes across a range of chronic health conditions.
“While Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to take action to address the health care crisis, longstanding gaps in access to quality care are only growing more severe. Smart, targeted investments can prevent harmful health disparities while reducing ER use and hospitalization, provider shortages, and costs,” said Sen. Padilla. “Congressman Harder and I are fighting to close these gaps by establishing 10-year Health Investment Zones so underserved areas receive the effective, affordable care they need.”
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