National Governing Council Health and Education Partnership promotes and facilitates the dissemination of information and ideas through partnerships among academic institutions, associations and organizations, industries, foundations, and governmental and community agencies.

The HEAL Coalition formed to address issues vital to the success of allied health education schools.

A new organization has been formed under the leadership and initiative of Tom E. Netting, Vice President of the Jefferson Government Relations Group. This new organization is called Higher Education Allied Health Leaders or HEAL. The HEAL coalition states that its purpose is to:

Congress defines the need for allied health education and training - Federal health legislation will affect your institution, students, curriculum, programs, recruitment, and placement practices. The HEAL Coalition will help you stay on the cutting edge of the changes affecting your school.

Proprietary institution eligibility is often omitted in developing allied health policies and programs - Proposed legislation often limits or prohibits a proprietary institutions or its students eligibility to participate in federal allied health-related programs. The HEAL Coalition will develop and implement effective strategies to increase awareness of and support for the inclusion of proprietary institutions in all relevant allied health legislation.

Competing interests already have established influence in Washington - The public higher education community has at least two organizations established that lobby for the interests of traditional universities and community colleges. The HEAL Coalition will provide the voice for the interests of proprietary institutions of higher education.

The proprietary sector needs to fill the void - It is time for the proprietary sector to find its voice in the allied health debate and protect the interests of our community and students. The HEAL Coalition has the knowledge, expertise, and access to fill the void. We can and will make a difference!

The following article is a press release recently sent out by The HEAL Coalition that is an example of HEAL efforts to educate the allied health education community on issues vital to the success of this industry.

Recognizing a looming crisis in shortages of qualified allied health professionals, Members of Congress have introduced proposals that promote, attract, and retain quality individuals to careers in allied health. In the House of Representatives, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) has introduced H.R. 215, the Allied Health Professions Reinvestment Act. The bill proposes several programs to increase awareness of and create incentives for the allied health professions:

Scholarships of up to $10,000 per year to individuals in allied health training programs, provided such individuals agree to provide one year of service as an allied health professional at an underserved health care facility for every year of scholarship funding provided.

Grants to allied health schools to (among other things) promote development of degree-awarding programs in allied health; provide education in new technologies, including distance learning; provide career advancement, training, and mentoring; study issues of importance to the profession; and promote training and education regarding the needs of the elderly.

A loan forgiveness program providing up to $30,000 in loans annually to eligible individuals, with up to 85% of such loan forgiven if the individual serves as a faculty member at a school of allied health for four years.

Sadly, however, one of the bills final sections states that the grants and programs described in the legislation shall only apply to institutions described in Section 101 of the Higher Education Act. In other words, proprietary schools need not apply.

In the Senate, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and two colleagues have introduced S. 473, the Allied Health Reinvestment Act. Many of the provisions and programs are similar to the House bill offered by Rep. Stearns, including:

Grants to allied health associations or programs to support outreach efforts to elementary and secondary schools; increase opportunities for disadvantaged students; provide remedial assistance to allied health students; and help finance child care and transportation costs for allied health students.

Grants to allied health schools to promote programs that facilitate the entry of secondary school students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Scholarships to individuals in allied health training programs who commit to provide at least two years of service in a rural or medically underserved area.

Because the Senate bill states that allied health education programs shall refer to all institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education that offer certificate or degree programs, proprietary schools will be eligible for grants and programs, where they would not be eligible under the House bill language.

If the proprietary allied health school community does not take action, this legislation could be enacted to the exclusion of your students and schools. Congress must be reminded of the quality education and training private career colleges and schools provide to a large and growing segment of the allied health professions workforce. And we must ensure that legislation, like the Allied Health Reinvestment Act, impacting allied health is being developed with our interests, and those of the professionals we educate, in mind.

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