Congresswoman Kuster discusses importance of NH’s healthcare workforce at NHTI

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(Concord, NH) – Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster, the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force, visited NHTI, Concord’s Community College, to discuss her Jobs and Opportunity Agenda and the importance of New Hampshire’s healthcare workforce to the local economy. Kuster heard directly from leaders in the nursing field and nursing students about best practices and initiatives in workforce development and the impact of substance misuse in the community on their work. Kuster also discussed the House Opioids package (H.R. 6), the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (Support for Patients and Communities Act), which recently passed the House with her support.

“In addition to being a public health emergency, the opioid epidemic is also an economic crisis,” said Kuster. “Granite Staters who otherwise would be making valuable contributions to our economy are unable to do so because they are struggling with substance misuse and often are unable to access the care they need, in part because of a shortage of substance misuse treatment providers. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from NHTI about their efforts to eliminate barriers to addiction treatment and train more workers in how to properly respond to and treat people who are struggling. I will continue working to help ensure substance misuse healthcare services are available to anyone who needs them.”

“We thank Congresswoman Kuster not only for taking the time to join us in this important discussion but also for her continued support of our efforts to educate our nursing and other allied health students,” said Cathryn Addy, Ph.D., Interim President of NHTI, Concord’s Community College. “The discussions we are able to have with those who help chart the future of health care in the state are invaluable.”

In May, Kuster released her Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which outlines a comprehensive approach to expanding economic opportunity by bolstering apprenticeship and vocational training programs, addressing the out of control costs of higher education, investing in infrastructure and broadband expansion, increasing affordable housing, and supporting working families with paid family leave and childcare programs. The agenda also outlines efforts to address the opioid epidemic to boost workforce participation.

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