A new partnership could expand healthcare access in the Central Valley
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A new healthcare partnership is coming to the San Joaquin Valley with the goal of helping out overworked healthcare workers.
Congressman Jim Costa was joined by the U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to tour UC San Francisco (UCSF) Fresno’s new medical labs. Both leaders hope partnerships with California’s higher education will alleviate an ongoing healthcare worker shortage.
“The Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the entire Cal State University system to try to promote the pathway for young Americans to go into healthcare,” Becerra said.
Congressman Jim Costa joined by US Secretary for Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra at UCSF Fresno announced a new medical partnership for the Central Valley.
“Through this partnership, UCSF Fresno’s mobile medical clinic, known as Mobile Heal, will provide contraceptive services at no cost to every patient that we already serve,” UCSF Fresno’s Dr. Kenny Banh said.
Costa on Monday introduced a bill that would create a grant program to establish schools of medicine and a bill that would create a task force to directly address the nursing shortage.
“The Valley is the fastest growing region in California, yet it has the lowest supply of physicians at a rate of 47 doctors per 100,000 residents. We have a critical shortage of physicians. It’s estimated six to eight thousand nurses short by the year 2030. Think about that, in our valley alone,” Costa said.
63% of Central Valley residents have reported skipping or delaying care due to its cost in 2023. Becerra said he hopes to see more people enter the medical field through this partnership.
“Whether doctor, nurse, or other form of health professional, now with this memorandum of understanding, we think we can work closely with the Cal State system to make sure that undergraduates out of California will keep healthcare in mind as a future health profession,” Becerra said.
According to the National Nursing Workforce study, California is projected to be short 44,500 registered nurses by 2030.
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