{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/during-roundtable-healthcare-leaders-magaziner-announces-bill-address", "During Roundtable with Healthcare Leaders, Magaziner Announces Bill to Address Workforce Shortages in Healthcare", "2023-02-15", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, during a roundtable discussion with local healthcare leaders, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) announced his first piece of legislation as a Member of Congress.\n\nMagaziner\u2019s legislation, the \u201cHealthcare Worker Retention Act,\u201d will provide a refundable tax credit of $2,000 over two years to any worker in a healthcare setting who has an annual salary of less than $100,000 or combined household income of less than $200,000. The bill will incentivize hiring and retention in healthcare fields, improve healthcare professionals\u2019 ability to provide high quality care to RI patients, and expand Rhode Islander\u2019s access to safe, affordable, and reliable healthcare.\n\n\u201cHealthcare systems in Rhode Island \u2013 and across the country \u2013 are at a breaking point due to widespread staffing shortages,\u201d said Rep. Seth Magaziner. \u201cExacerbated by the pandemic, these shortages have been worsening every year, threatening the health and wellbeing of our communities. Today, I\u2019m introducing the Healthcare Worker Retention Act \u2013 my first bill as a Member of Congress \u2013 because every Rhode Islander deserves access to quality, affordable, and efficient healthcare, and all healthcare workers deserve the necessary support to provide that care.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nThe Healthcare Worker Retention Act will provide healthcare workers with a series of refundable tax credits to help retain and attract talent in the healthcare sector. This tax credit will serve as an incentive to remain in healthcare professions and will put more money back into the pockets of critical healthcare workers. Specifically, the Healthcare Worker Retention Act will:\n\nProvides a refundable tax credit of $2,000 over two years, disbursed in payments of $500 every 6 months, to any worker in a healthcare setting who has an annual salary of less than $100,000 or combined household income of less than $200,000.\n\nEligible healthcare workers will include anyone who delivers care and services to the sick and ailing either directly as nurses and doctors or indirectly as aides, helpers, laboratory technicians, or medical waste handlers, including those who work for contractors.\n\nHealthcare settings include state-funded and private organizations that provide services in the following areas: disability, older persons, nursing homes, hospitals, community-based healthcare centers, schools or college campuses, primary care, hospice, paramedics, and home care.\n\nTo qualify, a healthcare worker must work at least 480 hours a year to qualify for the biannual $500 tax credit.\n\nIf two healthcare workers file together, they are each eligible for the credit as long as their combined household income is less than $200,000.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for Congressman Magaziner\u2019s prioritization of the needs of the healthcare workforce,\u201d Lisa Tomasso, Senior Vice President, Hospital Association of Rhode Island. \u201cWorkforce shortages, combined with increased medical and behavioral health conditions contribute to a need for policies and programs that ensure the healthcare workforce is able to provide access to the care Rhode Islanders need. Congressman Magaziner\u2019s Healthcare Worker Retention Act is one of those programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Congressman\u2019s leadership on this topic is a reflection of his deep understanding of the experience of healthcare workers,\u201d said Jesse Martin, Executive Vice President, SEIU 1199NE. \u201cAs a Union that represents healthcare workers in home care, hospitals, nursing homes and many other settings. This bill recognizes all of them for their sacrifice during this pandemic and helps to stabilize their staffing conditions.\u201d\n\n\"Congressman Magaziner's legislation is addressing a major concern in healthcare,\u201d said Donna Policastro, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association. \u201cThe retention of the healthcare workforce and incentivizing a continuum of the workforce begins with this bill.\"\n\n\u201cWe believe that to achieve health equity, every student should have access to a school nurse,\u201d said Linda Mendon\u00e7a, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, NCSN, FNASN, President, National Association of School Nurses. \u201cThis legislation, with its goal of incentivizing the hiring and retaining of healthcare professionals, is a strong first step in addressing the shortage of school nurses. A nurse in every school, able to address the complex medical, social and behavioral needs of our nation\u2019s children, is essential to keep children healthy, safe and ready to learn, and provides equitable access to healthcare.\u201d\n\n\"Clinica Esperanza/ Hope Clinic experienced a nearly 150% increase in operations since the onset of the pandemic and has failed to retain more than 50% of new recruits. Nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and community health workers are being offered much more competitive salaries and benefits from larger healthcare organizations which is impossible for a small community-based healthcare organization, like Clinica Esperanza/ Hope Clinic, to compete with. Other healthcare workers are leaving the healthcare field entirely due to burnout,\u201d said Morgan Leonard, Director of Clinic Operations at Cl\u00ednica Esperanza/Hope Clinic. \u201cThese retention challenges are causing gaps in patient care which impact the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Rep. Seth Magaziner's legislation recognizes the challenges facing community-based healthcare organizations as well as the dedicated healthcare workers that advance health equity and create accessible healthcare.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/during-roundtable-healthcare-leaders-magaziner-announces-bill-address"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9091626852750778, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}