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Nearly $18 Million to Improve Rural Health Care in Maine Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $17,971,000 to improve rural health care in the Fiscal Year 2023 Health and Human Services appropriations bill.  

 

The omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29.  It will now be passed by the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

 

“Mainers in every part of our state should be able to receive the vital medical services they need, which is why I have long advocated for funding to support access to quality rural health care,” said Senator Collins.  “By helping to increase the number of healthcare providers and upgrading medical equipment and ambulances, the funding for these projects will substantially improve the delivery of health care and enhance the wellbeing of Mainers living in rural parts of our state.”

 

Details on the 14 rural health care projects Senator Collins secured are below:

 

Androscoggin County

 

Dempsey Center Mobile Units

Recipient: Dempsey Centers for Quality Cancer Care

Project Location: Lewiston, ME

Amount: $725,000

Purpose: To support the purchase of two mobile units to provide physical and emotional support to rural Mainers impacted by cancer, including those with limited transportation and low digital access.

 

Aroostook County

 

Ambulance Acquisition for Central Aroostook Ambulance Service

Recipient: Central Aroostook County Emergency Medical Service

Project Location: Blaine, Bridgewater, Mars Hill, ME

Amount: $454,000

Purpose: To support the purchase of a new, fully equipped ambulance to service the communities of Blaine, Bridgewater, and Mars Hill, which are located more than 20 miles from an emergency department.

 

Aroostook County Mobile Rural Dental Unit

Recipient: Aroostook Dental Clinic d/b/a St. Apollonia Dental Clinic

Project Location: Presque Isle, ME

Amount: $450,000

Purpose: To support a mobile dental unit to improve access to complete dental services for children throughout Aroostook County.

 

Dental Workforce Training and Care Expansion to Northern Maine

Recipient: University of Maine System

Project Location: Presque Isle, ME

Amount: $750,000

Purpose: support the facility construction and equipment needs of a new dental lab at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, with the goal of training an additional 20 dental assistants annually.  

 

Cumberland County

 

Central Maine Healthcare Hospital Equipment Purchase

Recipient: Central Maine Healthcare Corporation

Project Location: Bridgton, Rumford, ME

Amount: $820,000

Purpose: To support the purchase of medical equipment and related renovations for the Rumford and Bridgton hospitals.

 

Kennebec County

 

University of Maine System Nursing Education Simulation

Recipient: University of Maine System

Project Location: Augusta, ME

Amount: $4,500,000

Purpose: To support facility expansion and simulation equipment to increase nursing enrollment throughout the UMaine System.

 

Knox County

 

Knox Clinic Expansion

Recipient: Mid-Coast Health Net Inc. d/b/a Knox Clinic

Project Location: Thomaston, ME

Amount: $2,105,000

Purpose: To support the construction and equipment needs of a new community health center in Thomaston, allowing the Clinic to reach under-resourced areas of Knox County.

 

Oxford County

 

Stephens Memorial Hospital PACE Ambulance Station Renovation

Recipient: MaineHealth

Project Location: Norway, ME

Amount: $1,642,000

Purpose: To support facility improvements and equipment for the PACE Paramedic Station in Norway, which will serve 18 rural communities in Oxford County.

 

Penobscot County

 

Rural Nursing, First Responder, and Allied Health Workforce Training Initiative

Recipient: Eastern Maine Community College

Project Location: Bangor, ME

Amount: $1,350,000

Purpose: To expand health care training programs that provide hands-on and remote training to rural health care workers and prospective workers as part of licensing and certification programs.

 

Millinocket Regional Hospital Emergency Department Renovation/Expansion

Recipient: Millinocket Regional Hospital

Project Location: Millinocket, ME

Amount: $3,500,000

Purpose: To support the renovation and expansion of the Millinocket Regional Hospital Emergency Room to meet community needs.

 

Piscataquis County

 

Ambulance Acquisition for Three Rivers Ambulance Service

Recipient: Three Rivers Ambulance Service

Project Location: Milo, ME

Amount: $175,000

Purpose: To purchase a new ambulance for the Three Rivers Ambulance Service, which serves eight communities in rural Maine.

 

Somerset County

 

Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance

Recipient: Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance Service

Project Location: Bingham, ME

Amount: $600,000

Purpose: To support facilities improvements and the purchase of two ambulances and additional emergency equipment.

 

Jackman Paramedic Garage

Recipient: Town of Jackman

Project Location: Jackman, ME

Amount: $750,000

Project Purpose: To build a cooperative municipal facility that will house a paramedicine vehicle and ambulances for regional emergency services responses.

 

Waldo County

 

Brooks Ambulance Personnel Training Center

Recipient: Brooks Ambulance, Inc.

Project Location: Brooks, ME

Amount: $150,000

Purpose: To purchase an EMS transfer van.

 

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