Committee hears proposal for $5 million annual fund to expand clinical training and residencies in Maine

Senator Henry Ingwersen presented LD 13 11 on behalf of the sponsor, asking the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services to create a $5,000,000 annual Maine Healthcare Education Training and Medical Residency Fund to expand clinical rotations, residencies and preceptorships in rural and underserved communities.

Supporters told the committee the state faces critical workforce shortfalls and that investing in training slots and preceptor support will help retain clinicians. "Clinical training and residencies are critical to meeting our health care workforce needs," Ingwersen said. University, hospital and health system witnesses described limited local capacity for student clinical placements and said expanding slots tends to increase the share of trainees…