Workforce Support and Retention

Page Updated: Oct. 10, 2024

CHA Advocacy Principle: Support a robust health care workforce and value health care workers through safe and supportive work environments.

What Has Been Completed:

Origin: One of CHA’s primary focuses in the 2022 legislative session was to invest in both short-term and long-term policies to support current health care workers as well as strengthen the health care workforce pipeline through passage of Senate Bill (SB) 22-226. Workforce investments continue to be a top priority for the Association.

Background: SB 22-226 $61 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support the health care workforce, the state’s largest investment in today’s health care heroes and the future health care workforce. The bill’s programs focus on the wellbeing, education, training, recruitment, and retention of health care workers. Additionally, the bill requires CDPHE to create a statewide data sharing system to better allocate resources and inform decision makers of health care workforce planning initiatives, as well as expands the scope of the recommendations required by the Nurse-Physician Advisory Task Force for Colorado Healthcare (NPATCH).

Care Forward Colorado: SB 22-226 dedicates $26 million in ARPA funds to train health care workers. Starting in fall 2022, students who enroll in one of the following health care certificate programs will have tuition, fees, and course materials covered as Care Forward Colorado funding allows.

      • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
      • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
      • Phlebotomy Technician
      • Pharmacy Technician
      • Medical Assistant
      • Dental Assistant
      • Nurse Refresher
      • Integrative Health Practitioner & Massage Therapy
      • Sterile Processing
      • Paramedic Certificate
      • Echocardiography Certificate
      • Medical Billing and Coding
      • Medical Office Certificate

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Colorado Practice-based Health Education Grant Program:
SB 22-226 dedicates $20 million in ARPA funds to:

      • Increase practice-based training opportunities necessary for health professions students enrolled in accredited Colorado schools to complete degree requirements and become licensed to practice; or,
      • Allow program participants enrolled in other training or residency programs offered by a public or nonprofit Colorado medical school or residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to gain hands-on experience in pursuit of a license in the health care field.

This work is implemented by the Primary Care Office within CDPHE.

Colorado Alliance for Resilient and Equitable Systems (CO-CARES): CO-CARES connects health care and public health workers, their teams, and their organizations to a variety of resources and tools that support recovery, improve wellbeing, and foster resilience. The initiative is made possible due to a collaborative partnership with CDPHE, the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience; University of Colorado Department of Psychiatry; University of Colorado School of Public Health; Colorado Hospital Association; and Switchback Institute. Resources are available at the organizational, peer champion, and individual level. To explore how CO-CARES can benefit hospital employees and leadership teams, click here.

Healthcare Workers Recruitment and Re-engagement Fund:

  • CDPHE’s RFA is designed to incentivize and assist employers in the recruitment of health care professionals to employment in long-term care facilities (LTCF), facilities with a Facility Healthcare Professional Shortage Area federal designation, and home-care agencies. If a facility successfully recruits a licensed or certified professional who works a minimum of 20 hours per week on average and for a minimum of six months, the facility is eligible to receive a one-time payment of $20,000 per professional. Eligible organizations and the list health care professionals that qualify can be found here.

  • Phase 2 of the Healthcare Workers Recruitment and Re-engagement Fund began in September and will remain open until November of 2024. Some changes in Phase 2 include a streamlined application process and the eligibility of those who can apply has been expanded to home care agencies. The program also expanded the types of health care workers that qualify the facility for funding to those who hold certifications and removed the requirement that a health care worker needed to have left the industry for at least six months prior to employment by an eligible facility. 

Resources: 

Meetings/Dates of Note:

    • June 30, 2025 – Deadline that the appropriated funds must be spent

CHA Staff Contact: Bridget Frazier, CHA senior manager of public policy, [email protected]