Nearly $18 Million to Improve Rural Health Care in Maine Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill in First Key Step
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $17,493,000 to improve rural health care in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 Health and Human Services appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.
“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 health care providers and upgrading medical equipment and ambulances, the funding for these projects would substantially improve the delivery of health care and enhance the wellbeing of Mainers living in rural parts of our state. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Details on the 14 rural health care projects Senator Collins requested 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: 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.
Project Location: Thomaston, ME
Amount: $1,836,000
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
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 Requested: $541,000
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.
