AUGUSTA - Last Friday, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that will study the expansion of the state's health care workforce by looking at ways to integrate physicians trained outside of Maine into the health care system.
LD 937, which received unanimous support in the Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, creates a 13-member commission to develop guidelines for the licensure of foreign-trained physicians and physicians moving to Maine from other states.
The bill was introduced to help address Maine's shrinking health care workforce, which is part of a nationwide trend. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the United States is facing a projected physician shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034.
"Maine, like much of the rest of the nation, is dealing with a health care workforce shortage," said Cloutier. "LD 937 will help to address this crucial issue by allowing us to better understand how to utilize the existing skills and training of foreign-trained physicians, as well as physicians who are seeking a new career in our state."
The new law will go into effect 90 days after final adjournment of the legislative session.
Cloutier is the Assistant House Majority Leader and is currently serving her third consecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents House District 94, which includes part of her hometown of Lewiston.