Respiratory Care Interstate Compact Helps Boost Healthcare Workforce
Read Time: 3 minutes, 21 seconds
Imagine the challenge of moving your family across the country every few years, restarting your career, and struggling to find a job in your field. For military spouses, this is a constant reality. The unique demands of military life make it hard to find stability, but HB 1114 offers a lifeline and military spouse job opportunities.
The 2024 legislative session began on January 13th, with House Bill 1114 gaining early attention from us at Greater Spokane Inc. Similar to GSI’s advocacy work to support the passage of the Nurse Licensure Compact, this bill proposes Washington State’s participation in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (RCIC), a vital step for community health and supporting our military service members.
Why HB 1114 Matters for Spokane’s Healthcare and Workforce Mobility
Every year, thousands of qualified respiratory therapists leave the field, creating a gap in healthcare services that affects everyone. HB 1114 addresses this crisis by making it easier for qualified professionals to work across state lines, ensuring Spokane businesses and healthcare providers have access to the talent they need. It streamlines license portability while maintaining high professional standards.
Respiratory therapists, indispensable to our healthcare system, work closely with doctors to deliver specialized care and services to patients with pulmonary challenges. GSI took an active role in championing this legislation, organizing local leaders and professionals to deliver powerful testimony in its favor.
By joining the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, Washington state will make it easier for respiratory therapists to practice across state lines, creating a more mobile and flexible healthcare workforce. This change supports military families while also helping healthcare providers meet the growing demand for skilled professionals, ultimately strengthening our workforce and improving services for the Spokane community.
Testimony from Brian Newberry: Military Families and Workforce Flexibility
Former Fairchild Base Commander Brian Newberry brought his personal experiences and extensive background working with service men and women to the discussion. Newberry, whose wife has been a nurse for 35 years, shared the challenges of relocating over a dozen times during his military service.
“This is particularly important as was noted for younger military spouses out there,” Newberry stated. “They need to get into the workforce fast and are more income constrained, and need a job quickly.”
This issue is supported by legislation like the RCIC because it helps relieve much of that transitional burden experienced by military personnel. Newberry highlighted how valuable these kinds of programs would have been to him and his wife but hopes current and incoming service members get the opportunity to take advantage of them.
Jon Moyer’s Insights: Addressing the Respiratory Therapist Shortage
GSI also worked in partnership with Jon Moyer, MultiCare System’s Director of Respiratory Care. Drawing from his professional expertise, Moyer outlined a pressing challenge. “According to CoARC (the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care), 8,000 respiratory therapists leave the field annually due to retirement or other factors, while only 5,000 enter from academic programs.”
Moyer emphasized that the compact offers critical flexibility and portability for respiratory therapists, ensuring patients have access to skilled professionals across the state.
Bringing Together Healthcare and Military Voices
GSI’s strategic efforts ensured that these compelling voices were heard, underscoring the widespread benefits of HB 1114, and is proud to have facilitated community participation in this legislative process, showcasing the collective voice of Spokane in support of meaningful, impactful policy. We look forward to promoting our member partners and community when able and will continue working to support the RCIC in Olympia.
Join us in Advocating for HB 1114
We invite our members to join us in advocating for HB 1114. Reach out to your legislators today and encourage them to support this critical Washington state healthcare bill that benefits both our healthcare workforce and military families. Listen here to the bill testimony (Brian Newberry’s testimony is at 1hr 30m).
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