Governor Mark Gordon has signed an Executive Order creating the Wyoming Healthcare Workforce Task Force, a continuation of efforts to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Wyoming and to look to the future needs of the state.
The Task Force will develop recommendations to streamline the healthcare licensing process; develop strategies to better support Wyoming students pursuing healthcare certification and degree programs; and determine reimbursement strategies for all certified and degreed behavioral health professionals.
“Strengthening and expanding our healthcare workforce is critical to Wyoming’s future,” Governor Gordon said. “That’s why it’s so important to have our state entities work collaboratively to make it easier for healthcare professionals to practice, and for students preparing for a career in healthcare to access educational programs. This task force is an important step in this process.”
Since establishing the Governor’s Healthcare Task Force, Governor Gordon has worked to address the state’s healthcare workforce shortage and improve access to healthcare for Wyoming residents. The Governor’s Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) initiative furthered these efforts through the state’s community colleges, establishing a new Echocardiography program and expanding opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). Additional WIP programs will focus on creating and expanding CNA I, CNA II, Practical Nursing, and Registered Nursing programs around the state.
The Wyoming Healthcare Task Force will include representatives from Wyoming healthcare licensing boards; the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges; Wyoming health insurance payors; state agency leadership; the Governor’s office and other non-governmental and industry organizations.