Since the start of 2026, NHA has worked to bring lawmakers’ attention to one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: strengthening the workforce pipeline. For patients and their families, these conversations are especially important as healthcare employers across the country continue to report shortages of roles that are essential to keeping healthcare systems running efficiently and improving patient access to care.
At NHA, this year’s advocacy efforts have focused on ensuring policymakers understand the value of high-quality, industry-recognized credentialing programs and the importance of creating accessible pathways into healthcare careers.
Workforce Pell: Expanding Access to Short-Term Training
The Trump Administration’s recent Workforce Pell final rule marked one of the most significant workforce policy developments of the year, expanding federal Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term workforce training programs. For the allied health workforce, this policy has the potential to reduce financial barriers for students pursuing careers such as medical assisting, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, and patient care technician while helping employers address persistent staffing shortages.
NHA has consistently supported efforts to expand access to high-quality, industry-recognized credentialing programs and strengthen flexible career pathways into a healthcare career. The organization has also emphasized the importance of ensuring Workforce Pell programs remain aligned with employer needs, stackable credentials, and long-term career mobility for learners.
To learn more about our advocacy on the Workforce Pell program, click here.
Workforce Funding Remains a Federal Priority
Congress’ work on the federal budget and annual appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) has major implications for allied health education and workforce development. Federal funding decisions help determine whether programs that support healthcare training—including Workforce Pell, Career and Technical Education (CTE), Job Corps, Title VII health professions programs, and more—can continue expanding access to education and career pathways for students entering allied health professions.
This year, NHA has continued advocating for strong federal investment in these initiatives, emphasizing that allied health professionals are essential to patient care delivery and that workforce shortages cannot be solved without sustained support for education and training pathways. As budget negotiations continue, NHA remains engaged with lawmakers to help ensure students, educators, and employers have the resources needed to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
To learn more about our advocacy on the federal appropriations process, click here.
Supporting Innovation in Healthcare Career Pathways
Beyond specific legislation and funding debates, 2026 also highlighted growing momentum around healthcare workforce innovation and skills-based education pathways. Throughout the year, policymakers increasingly focused on modernizing workforce development strategies to better align education and training with employer needs, particularly in high-demand healthcare roles. NHA continued its advocacy for policies that support competency-based education, apprenticeships, work-based learning opportunities, and industry-recognized credentials that help learners build real-world, job-ready skills.
NHA also remained actively engaged with lawmakers, workforce organizations, educators, and employers to elevate the importance of allied health professionals in care delivery. As workforce shortages persist and allied health professionals take on expanding responsibilities across healthcare settings, NHA has continued emphasizing the need for flexible career pathways, stronger employer-education partnerships, and sustained investment in workforce readiness initiatives that help both learners and healthcare systems succeed. In the months ahead, NHA will continue advocating for robust Title VII funding, supporting the successful implementation of Workforce Pell, and educating lawmakers during the midterm election cycle and in preparation for the 120th Congress.
To learn more about NHA’s advocacy initiatives through the end of 2026, click here.
How You Can Get Involved
NHA encourages stakeholders, educators, employers, and healthcare professionals to stay engaged as these policies continue moving forward.
Your perspective helps policymakers better understand the workforce challenges facing healthcare providers and the importance of creating flexible, high-quality pathways into allied health careers.
If you have questions about these policy developments or would like to support NHA’s advocacy efforts, please contact Kurt Burkum, NHA Senior Director of Government Relations, at kurt.burkum@ascendlearning.com.
