U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) on Sept. 3 sponsored a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize both the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and the Geriatrics Academic Career Awards (GACA) at a combined $48.2 million per year over the next five years.
“This bipartisan bill would continue to train the current workforce and family caregivers, while developing emerging leaders in geriatric education across a variety of disciplines,” Sen. Collins said Wednesday in remarks on the U.S. Senate floor in support of the bill.
“By doing both, we will help ensure that aging Americans are cared for by a workforce specifically trained to meet their unique and complex health needs for decades to come,” added the senator. “This will mean better care for older Americans, while saving valuable resources and reducing unnecessary costs.”
She introduced the Geriatrics Workforce Improvement Act, S. 2699, alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) to reauthorize the programs, which were last authorized in 2020 as part of the CARES Act and are set to expire at the end of this month.
“Older Americans deserve to age with dignity and respect, and a crucial part of that is making sure that their health care providers are trained to understand the unique needs of aging Americans,” said Sen. Kaine. “Our bipartisan legislation will reauthorize programs to train the next generation of providers caring for older adults and help improve access to high-quality care.”
The GWEP is the only federally funded program to educate and train health professionals in geriatrics. There are currently 42 GWEP recipients, including in Maine at the University of New England.
The GACA supports early-career training of junior faculty to develop emerging leaders in geriatric education and clinical care. There are currently 25 GACA recipients funded under four-year awards through June 2027.
The bill is supported by AgingME, the American Geriatrics Society, the National Association for Geriatric Education, and the Virginia GWEP.