Today, Governor Janet Mills announced the launch of a new program through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Act to strengthen Maine’s health care workforce. The initiative expands availability of health care career training, easing the burden on health care employers and attracting new workers to the field. It’s just the latest step by the Mills administration to address Maine’s long standing health care worker shortage, which was exacerbated by her predecessor, Paul LePage.
When LePage was governor, he repeatedly fought against efforts to expand Maine’s health care workforce. He vetoed legislation to increase nursing pay. And he refused to fill vacancies in the state’s public health infrastructure. As a result, the Bangor Daily News accused LePage of trying to “squeeze the life” from the state’s health care system, and the Portland Press Herald described Maine’s public health infrastructure as "decimated" under LePage.
"During his time in the Blaine House, Paul LePage took an ax to Maine’s health care workforce, and Maine people suffered as a result," said Drew Gattine, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. "Since Governor Mills took over, she has worked tirelessly to expand the number of health care workers in the state, and has revitalized our state’s public health infrastructure. We can’t let LePage undo that progress and put Mainers’ lives at risk once again."
Since taking office, Governor Mills has taken a number of actions to expand Maine’s health care workforce, including:
- Tuition forgiveness for students pursuing careers in nursing and other health professions
- Funding to recruit more health care workers.
- The creation of health care career navigation centers.
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