The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Healthcare Workforce Task Force has released their report of recommendations to address healthcare workforce shortages. In April 2024, Governor Abbott sent a letter to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create the task force to address healthcare workforce shortages as the state grows. Victoria Ford was appointed as Chair of the 12-member task force.

The Healthcare Workforce Task Force recommendations include:

  • Coordinate state healthcare workforce planning more effectively by creating the Statewide Health Professions Workforce Coordinating Council (HPWCC).
  • Expand the number of pharmacy technicians in Texas.
  • Create a start–up fund for sponsors of apprenticeship programs.
  • Improve the alignment of curriculum for credentials between high school and university programs.
  • Expand the availability of instructional materials for health professions related courses and career and technical education (CTE) programs.
  • Study the feasibility of community colleges to offer 4-year programs for health professionals in specific circumstances.
  • Streamline the nursing school application process by including nursing school programs in the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services.
  • Create a Gold Ribbon Panel on the Future of Nursing.
  • Improve the alignment of the nursing profession career pathway.
  • Create a clear career pathway for certain allied health professionals into the nursing profession.
  • Create a program evaluation unit to research and identify the most effective innovations in education and training of health care professionals.
  • Continue investment in scholarship and loan repayment programs.

The full Healthcare Workforce Task Force report and recommendations can be found here.