2023 Legislative Session

On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, Chris Zeigler, Senior Director of ASC Operations at Twin Cities Orthopedics, and MNASCA Board Member, testified in support of S.F. 1288 in the Senate Higher Education Committee. The bill is authored by Senator Aric Putnam, and would establish a program to provide scholarships for health technicians, including Surgical Technicians, Radiology Technicians, and Lab Technicians, among others. The program is modeled after the 1,000 CNAs Program launched by Governor Walz in 2021, intended to combat staffing issues in long-term care facilities.

The scholarship program created in S.F. 1288 could help alleviate staffing shortages by encouraging interest into technical careers in healthcare, and reducing barriers to entry. Although this will not resolve the issue of staffing shortages immediately, it is a good start to increasing enrollment in health technician programs, and to increasing interest in the field.

MNASCA and the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) are working together to pass this important piece of legislation. 

You may find the letter of support for S.F. 1288 submitted by MNASCA here.