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:
Recipient: Dempsey Centers for Quality Cancer Care
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.
Ambulance Acquisition for Central Aroostook Ambulance Service
Recipient: Central Aroostook County Emergency Medical Service
Project Location: Blaine, Bridgewater, Mars Hill, ME
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
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
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.
Central Maine Healthcare Hospital Equipment Purchase
Recipient: Central Maine Healthcare Corporation
Project Location: Bridgton, Rumford, ME
Purpose: To support the purchase of medical equipment and related renovations for the Rumford and Bridgton hospitals.
University of Maine System Nursing Education Simulation
Recipient: University of Maine System
Purpose: To support facility expansion and simulation equipment to increase nursing enrollment throughout the UMaine System.
Recipient: Mid-Coast Health Net Inc.
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.
Stephens Memorial Hospital PACE Ambulance Station Renovation
Purpose: To support facility improvements and equipment for the PACE Paramedic Station in Norway, which will serve 18 rural communities in Oxford County.
Rural Nursing, First Responder, and Allied Health Workforce Training Initiative
Recipient: Eastern Maine Community College
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
Purpose: To support the renovation and expansion of the Millinocket Regional Hospital Emergency Room to meet community needs.
Ambulance Acquisition for Three Rivers Ambulance Service
Purpose: To purchase a new ambulance for the Three Rivers Ambulance Service, which serves eight communities in rural Maine.
Recipient: Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance Service
Purpose: To support facilities improvements and the purchase of two ambulances and additional emergency equipment.
Project Purpose: To build a cooperative municipal facility that will house a paramedicine vehicle and ambulances for regional emergency services responses.
Brooks Ambulance Personnel Training Center
Purpose: To purchase an EMS transfer van.