AUGUSTA, Maine — In a near-final step to becoming law, a bill to boost efforts to recruit and retain more primary health care providers and dentists in underserved parts of the state was sent to the Special Appropriations Table on May 31, where lawmakers on the Appropriations and Financial Committee will consider it for funding.
The Maine Senate forwarded the bill to budget writers, signaling its desire to enact the bill. All bills that require funding must be sent to the Special Appropriations Table before they may become law.
LD 1287, “An Act To Strengthen Efforts To Recruit and Retain Primary Care Professionals and Dentists in Rural and Underserved Areas of the State,” expands existing programs designed to bring more health care professionals into rural and medically underserved parts of the state, including large swaths of Aroostook County in Sen. Jackson’s district.
“This bill would help make sure that rural Mainers have the same access to health care that folks in larger towns and cities might take for granted, and I’m hopeful that Appropriators will give it the funding it needs to become law,” said Sen. Jackson. “As I’ve said before: If we’re going to preserve rural Mainers’ way of life, we need to make sure they can get the health care they need to live. We can’t do that without helping to attract doctors and dentists to these parts of the state.”
An existing income tax credit for eligible dentists who practice in underserved areas is set to expire in 2020. Jackson’s bill would extend the credit until 2026. LD 1287 would also provide the credit to more primary care professionals, such as physicians, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants who practice in underserved areas. Sen. Jackson’s bill would provide the credit to 10 providers in rural and underserved communities throughout the state, rather than the five currently allowed by the law.
Lawmakers on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee will consider funding for the bill during the ongoing budget negotiations.
