On May 19, 2021, U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), announced the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to diversify America’s health-care workforce, specifically among five allied health professions severely lacking in racial and ethnic diversity.

The Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act would provide grant funding to colleges and universities to make audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, and speech-language pathology programs more accessible to underrepresented communities, including racial and ethnic minorities.

The Academy worked closely with colleagues representing the other professions reflected in this legislation to secure this reintroduction. Identical legislation passed the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress.

For more information.

Share this

Recent Posts

Announcing Our Academy Board of Directors Elected Members 2023–2024

President’s Message: An Inside Look at Our Coding and Reimbursement Team

Volunteer Spotlight: Laura Gaeta, PhD

Related Posts

Hearing test in a newborn baby, otoacustic emissions. Hearing screening. Selective focus. Hispanic ethnicity.

Academy Recommends Changes to Proposed Amendments to New York EHDI Screening Protocol

The New York Department of Health recently proposed shifting to a two-tiered testing protocol in the New York Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programs (UNHS) to “be consistent with nationally recognized standards established by the Joint Committee of Infant Hearing (JCIH).” The New York proposal would mandate utilizing an otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening followed by an…

Read More
Artificial intelligence of futuristic technology concept. Hand using an electronic pen write on tablet screen virtual circuit AI brain genius technology.

Biden Administration Takes Action to Advance Responsible Artificial Intelligence, Research, Development, and Deployment

On May 23, the Biden Administration released FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes New Steps to Advance Responsible Artificial Intelligence Research, Development, and Deployment | The White House, outlining the myriad of actions taken to date to identify and manage the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) including a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights |…

Read More
Businessman working on laptop, using mobile phone at modern office, analyzing business document with financial graph, market report on digital tablet, business data analysis concept. Shutterstock Image.

HHS-OIG Releases Toolkit for Assessing Telehealth Billing Risks

Released last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG), a new federal toolkit aims to help health-care stakeholders analyze their telehealth claims data to assess program integrity risks. The toolkit is based on the methodology developed for a report published September 2022 that assessed providers who billed Medicare for…

Read More