State representative Terry Swinger (D-- Caruthersville) and Governor Jay Nixon encourages schools to use funding toward Caring for Missourians initiative

State Representative Terry Swinger, left, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, right, at the Capitol. Photo provided [Click to enlarge]

The numbers don't sit well with Swinger and other politicians who have openly supported plans to address these issues, including one by Governor Jay Nixon and the Hospital Association who proposed in recent months a measure supporters claimed would put 35,000 Missourians on healthcare.

"As previously discussed, I am so disappointed Governor Jay Nixon's and the Hospital Association's plan to put 35,000 Missourians on healthcare didn't pass," Swinger said.

"However, a positive outcome in healthcare came in the form of funding higher education institutions that they can use towards Governor Nixon's proposed Caring for Missourians initiative."

Governor Nixon introduced the Caring for Missourians initiative in his State of the State address.

According to Swinger, Caring for Missourians is an initiative to train more Missouri students to fill the shortage of healthcare workers in Missouri.

"We have many qualified people wanting to become healthcare providers but schools have had to turn away them due to lack of space, faculty and supplies," Swinger explained. "

Around $40 million was allocated in the budget to go to two-and-four-year public colleges and universities that can be used toward the Caring for Missourians initiative. Its goal is to educate an additional 916 healthcare graduates."

Swinger added that Missouri's population is aging, causing a greater need for healthcare graduates.

"Currently 95 percent of Missouri counties are designated as underserved, leading to around 44 percent of Missourians not having adequate access to a primary care professional. Rural communities are finding it difficult to fill open health care professional positions due to lack of these graduates," he said.

Although each school would get to decide how to use the funds, Swinger said that the Governor is urging educational institutions to utilize the funds toward the Caring for Missourians initiative.

"As Governor Nixon said in his State of the State address about the initiative, 'We have hardworking Missourians ready to fill these skilled jobs, they just need a little help getting there,'" Swinger noted.

"This is not the only solution to this healthcare problem. However, it will help with healthcare accessibility. It will also give Missouri an economic boost, due to these being higher paying jobs."