Public Health Nursing Act

HR 6768, the Public Health Nursing Act, authorizes $5 billion annually (2024-2033) to expand public health nursing services through federal grants to state and local health departments. The bill requires grantees to use funds for recruiting and training registered nurses in underserved areas, covering wages, medical supplies (like PPE), and administrative costs to improve maternal/infant health and chronic disease management. Priority is given to applicants serving communities with high chronic disease rates, maternal mortality, low-income populations, rural areas, or health professional shortage zones. This directly affects public health departments and their ability to hire nurses providing in-person care, home visits, and mobile clinic services.