The Idaho House has passed House Bill 368 which aims to address the physician crisis in the state by adding more undergraduate medical seats. Currently, Idaho pays for 40 seats with the University of Washington’s WWAMI program and 10 seats with the University of Utah. The bill would add 10 seats for the next academic year, gradually increasing the number of seats to 20 in the following years. Representative Dustin Manwaring, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the need to increase medical capacity and address the physician shortage in Idaho. The bill received bipartisan support in the House with a 46 to 21 vote and will now move to the Idaho Senate for consideration.
Manwaring explained that the bill would shift 10 seats away from the WWAMI program to add more capacity within Idaho. By diversifying how state dollars are allocated for medical education, the state aims to be more in control of the process and ensure increased medical education opportunities for Idaho residents. The state has already signed agreements with both WWAMI and the University of Utah for the expansion of medical seats.
In related news, House Bill 176, which also focused on expanding the WWAMI program, was sent back to committee for further review. The passing of House Bill 368 marks a significant step towards addressing the physician crisis in Idaho and increasing access to medical education for the state’s residents.
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