Available Government Grants for Nurse Staffing Agencies
U.S. government estimates indicate an increase in the demand for nursing staff through 2021. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the demand for registered nurses alone will increase by 22 percent. This employment demand will increase in all medical sectors including private physician offices, home health care services, nursing care facilities and hospitals. As an incentive to increase employment in the healthcare industry, federal and state agencies are offering government grants to encourage medical staffing.
Other People Are Reading
-
Health IT Workforce Development Program
-
Nurse staffing agencies must consider continued healthcare training as an essential part of providing qualified and licensed healthcare employees. The Health IT Workforce Development Program provides educational grants for the development of new nursing curricula, nursing development centers and competency examination programs. Nurse staffing agencies can obtain a grant application and information on this and other grant programs through the Office of the National Coordinator for National Health Information Technology.
Electronic Health Records Incentive Programs
-
Nurse-staffing agencies that provide private nursing care are required to update and maintain medical health records. Agencies that provide private nurse practitioner services and certified nurse-midwives may qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid electronic health records incentive programs. The Medicare electronic health records (EHR) incentive program offers grant incentives of up to $44,000 for five consecutive years for the transition to EHR systems. Medicaid offers incentives of up to $63,750 over six years. Nurse staffing agencies may qualify for both programs. EHR grant applications are available through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
-
Small Business Innovation Grants
-
Staffing agencies are often in the forefront when it comes to innovative hiring strategies. Innovative nurse staffing processes, technology and procedures may qualify some staffing agencies for a Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Institute of Health. This grant awards U.S. small businesses the funds to research and develop technologies for research and development medical projects. Businesses may receive grants awards of up to $150,000. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance references this grant under code 93.061 and Funding Opportunity Number PA-11-096. Use both identification numbers to obtain a grant application through the National Institute of Health.
Work Force Training Grants
-
The required costs of continued medical training and state licensing are a burden for many nurses. Nurse staffing agencies can use state Work Force Training Grants to relieve the cost of these burdens on their employees and maintain a qualified nursing employment pool for their clients. Grants are direct reimbursements for the cost of training. Work Force Training Grant program monetary awards vary in each state. Contact your state’s department of economic development to obtain a grant application.
-
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition-Registered Nurses
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing: Fact Sheet Nursing Shortage; July 2011
- Department of Health and Human Services: Overview Information
- Grants.gov: PHS 2011-02 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, FDA and ACF for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology: Get the Facts about Health It Workforce Development Program
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology: Incentive Programs and Payment Schedule
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: EHR Incentive Programs Overview
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Workforce Training Fund Overview
- Wyoming Department of Workforce Services: Workforce Development Training Fund Program
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
