Potential bill looks to address shortage of healthcare workers in Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) - A public hearing occurred on Friday at the state’s capital on potential legislation addressing Maine’s healthcare worker shortage.

The bill would create the Maine Healthcare Education Training and Medical Residency Fund. It would provide five million dollars a year for healthcare workforce development specifically in rural and underserved areas.

According to supporters, some main focuses for the fund is improved clinical training placement, expanded residency rotations in rural areas, and opportunities for innovating new training models.

According to Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-York, the sponsor of the bill, in 2024, the state had a shortage of over two thousand nurses and a 21-percent vacancy of mental health clinical positions.

“If we let these programs lapse, then we lose the momentum we have built in recent years and backslide in meeting our healthcare workforce needs,” said Ingwersen.

“While we don’t want to sound like alarmists, we believe it is critical to address the current healthcare workforce shortage. The next five to 10 years will present some of the most significant challenges in our healthcare system and we are deeply concerned,” added Vice President of Workforce Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the Maine Hospital Association Sally Weiss.

The proposed bill has support from both sides of the aisle. A work session will be scheduled where it will be voted on by committee.

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