Maine has been awarded nearly $1.9 million in federal aid to help reduce a shortage of primary health care workers.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department has announced a total of $320 million in grants under the Affordable Care Act to strengthen the country’s health care work force through a variety of programs, including by training low-income workers for health careers.
Maine and other states are in need of more primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurses and other professionals to meet the demands of an aging population and expanded access to health insurance due to federal reforms passed early this year.
Maine is receiving a portion of the funding to help states as they plan and implement their own strategies to address the work force shortages.
“Investing in our primary care work force will strengthen the role that wellness and prevention play in our health care system,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in the department’s announcement. “With these grants, Americans from all backgrounds will have new opportunities to enter the health care work force.”
See the complete list of Prevention and Public Health Fund workforce grant award tables by state.
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