California Wage Law Puts ‘Band-Aids’ on Health Worker Shortages

A new California law raising minimum wages for health-care workers is likely to trigger similar pushes for higher pay in other states, a move workforce researchers and attorneys who counsel health systems say must be accompanied by additional policies to address persistent health worker shortages across the country.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Oct. 13 signed into law a measure (S.B. 525) setting the minimum wage at $23 an hour starting next year at large health systems and dialysis clinics. That rate will increase to $25 an hour by 2026, but will increase more slowly at some ...