Lawmakers hear plans to expand medical residencies to boost Idaho physician supply

Summary

Legislative analysts and residency program directors told the Joint Finance Corporation Committee that state-supported residency funding has enabled rapid growth in graduate medical education and is essential to retaining physicians in Idaho, with proposals to add positions and continue a 10-year expansion plan.

Legislative analysts and program directors briefed the Joint Finance Corporation Committee on Idaho's medical residency programs and funding requests, describing rapid expansion since a statewide 10-year plan began and arguing the state share for residency slots helps retain physicians.

Kevin Campbell, budget analyst with the Legislative Services Office, summarized multiple residency programs and funding history, noting Idaho's residency retention rate among graduates is high: he cited an American Medical Association statistic that "55 percent of graduates of Idaho residencies and fellowships stay in Idaho." Campbell outlined that the state's portion of support for a resident in 2026 is approximately $210,000 per year and that residency funding is structured as a three-way partnership among sponsoring institutions, health systems and state appropriations.

Why it matters: committee members emphasized that training physicians in-state is a primary strategy to address Idaho's low…

Lawmakers hear plans to expand medical residencies to boost Idaho physician supply

Summary

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