The AAMC-endorsed (PDF) Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act (S. 4110) was introduced on March 17 by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The bipartisan proposal would reauthorize the health professions workforce development programs authorized under Title VII of the Public Health Service Act and administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The authorization for the programs expired at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2025.
Specifically, the EMPOWER for Health Act would reauthorize the HRSA Title VII health professions programs for FYs 2026 to 2030 at FY 2024 funding levels. The bill also includes minor technical changes to improve the application process of the Title VII Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program and support Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) youth public health programs for pre-collegiate students.