Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that’s meant to address Iowa’s shortage of doctors and other health care workers. It uses federal money to expand medical residency programs at Iowa’s 14 teaching hospitals and create new residency slots in some specialties.
An additional 115 residency slots will be created each year.
The plan also merges the five state programs that help medical professionals repay their college loans and makes eight million dollars available. That’s nearly double the amount being spent on the programs this year. Reynolds says the priority will be loan repayment assistance to medical staff in high demand specialties, like psychiatry.
The legislation also provides three MILLION dollars to support training programs for health care workers seeking a new credential. State officials Wednesday afternoon announced 14 programs already have been selected, where 399 people will be enrolled. The group will be studying to be registered or licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants and certified medical assistants.
