In the News

Newsday

…Home health aides are state-certified health care professionals who play a central role in New York’s health care system as they provide care for people with disabilities and older adults like John Small who opt to remain in their homes rather than entering nursing care or assisted living facilities.

The Smalls have lived in their East Meadow home for nearly 20 years, a key reason they chose to pay for home aides.

“It is better for patients to be in their surroundings,” Patricia Small said.

As Long Island’s population ages, demand for home health aides is surging — with the workforce projected to grow nearly 40% statewide by 2030, according to the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany. But the industry is already struggling to keep up, constrained by low wages, limited public transportation and tightening immigration policies that experts say could leave thousands of seniors without the help they need to safely age at home.

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The St. Louis American

Furaha Moyé owes her smile to Harlem United.

The community health center, based in Upper Manhattan, has served as a steady source of affordable, quality dental care for the 76-year-old Harlem resident for more than a decade.

…Frustrated by how expensive dental care is, Moyé is equally grateful to Harlem United for its commitment to serving patients regardless of their ability to pay. Too often, the financial stresses that come with accessing dental services can stand in the way of overall good health, she said.

…Finding a dental provider who accepts Medicaid can be a challenge. In New York State, the program reimburses participating dentists at about a third or less of average dental charges, according to 2024 data released by the American Dental Association. Only one-third of New York dentists accept Medicaid, according to a report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at The State University of New York at Albany.

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New York Amsterdam News

…For many, Medicaid, which provides health insurance for low-income individuals and people with disabilities, can serve as a lifeline for accessing affordable dental care. Jointly funded by the federal government and state governments, Medicaid provides comprehensive dental care to children under the age of 21; coverage for adults varies by state. Only 11 states (not including New York) and Washington, D.C., provide extensive dental coverage for adults, according to data published by the CareQuest Institute.

Barriers to Medicaid acceptance

Finding a dental provider who accepts Medicaid can be a challenge. In New York State, the program reimburses participating dentists at about a third or less of average dental charges, according to 2024 data released by the American Dental Association. Only one-third of New York dentists accept Medicaid, according to a report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at The State University of New York at Albany.

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Medical Xpress

The production of new nurses to help address national nursing shortages starts with the educational pipeline. However, substantial and persistent salary disparities exist between nursing faculty and nurses working in clinical and non-academic roles across the U.S., according to a new study published in Nurse Educator by Center for Health Workforce Studies researchers at the University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences. The study utilized data from the 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses.

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Times Union

With health care cuts an ongoing concern for people across the U.S., here’s what should concern New Yorkers the most: the health care workforce shortage, with unfilled positions straining services across the state.

According to the Healthcare Association of New York State, last year 97% of New York hospitals reported a shortage of nurses, and 88% reported a need for non-nursing healthcare personnel. A report from the Center for Health Workforce Studies confirmed that these shortages span all health care settings, with a particular concentration among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and entry-level aides.

And while much of the focus has been on nursing — affected by thousands of vacancies — there are other roles that are just as crucial to improving treatment outcomes…

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WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Employers across the state, from small businesses to major hospitals, are telling us the same thing: They need more skilled workers.

Let’s take healthcare, for example, a field where worker shortages remain widespread and have far-reaching consequences for our most vulnerable populations.

In a recent report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies, over 94% of nursing homes reported challenges in recruiting Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) and home health aides in New York. Why? Because there simply aren’t enough trained workers.

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Crain’s New York Business

One in 6 New Yorkers who needed dental care in the past year could not get it, according to a new study from SUNY Albany’s Center for Healthcare Workforce Studies.

That’s primarily because of the high cost of oral health care and widespread gaps in dental insurance coverage, according to the study, which analyzed state and national survey data from the American Association of Medical Colleges.

More than 11% of New Yorkers said they could not afford to go to the dentist. Roughly 10% lacked dental insurance, and of those who had coverage another 10% said they had trouble finding a dentist who accepted their plan.

Part of the problem is that private dental practices often do not accept Medicaid, forcing many low-income New Yorkers to seek care at overburdened safety net providers, explained Dr. Simona Surdu, co-director of SUNY Albany’s Oral Health Workforce Research Center and the lead researcher of the study…

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Dentistry Today

Oral health plays a critical role in a person’s overall health and well-being, yet many New Yorkers face limited access to the oral health services they need. Identifying where these needs are most acute can help guide resource allocation to fill service gaps.

A new report, released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS) at the University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences, indicates that improving access to oral health services in New York State requires a broader understanding of oral health needs and the challenges that underserved populations face. The study, conducted by CHWS and funded by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, examined factors identified by New York State consumers that affected their access to oral health services and explored differences in utilization of those services by sociodemographic groups….

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McKnight’s Senior Living

Some of the fastest-growing occupations in New York between 2016 and 2026 are expected to be positions found in senior living communities and other healthcare settings, according to an annual report on trends in the healthcare workforce in New York.

“The Health Care Workforce in New York State: Trends in the Supply of and Demand for Health Care Workers,” from the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany School of Public Health, reviewed healthcare employment trends in New York, identifies the healthcare professions and occupations in greatest demand and is meant to guide healthcare workforce policies, including decisions related to education and job training programs.

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Dentistry Today

Many of the factual points Dr. Michael Davis made in his August 19 article, “Dental Hygienists Face Temp Employment Difficulties,” are well taken. But I believe that the outlook for the dental hygiene profession, viewed holistically from the national perspective, is not as dire as depicted. In addition, respectfully, some of the language used to describe the challenges to dental hygienists is quite strong in the absence of citations…

…Dental support organizations (DSOs) also offer opportunities for dental hygienists that may not exist in a traditional dental hygiene position in a private practice dental office. They allow for career growth beyond clinical practice for those who want to pursue a role in administration, for example. According to the Oral Health Workforce Research Center at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health, DSOs are attractive to dental hygienists who desire employee benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans.

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