Idaho lawmakers mull ambitious plan to address state’s severe doctor shortage

Idaho is severely lacking in doctors, and many of its existing ones are nearing retirement age, Dr. Ted Epperly told lawmakers Wednesday as he presented the state’s new 10-year plan to increase graduate medical education in the state.

"We’re 49th out of 50," Epperly said, both in the number of doctors per-capita and in the number of medical residents per capita. "This plays out in terms of not having ready access to care, especially in rural and frontier areas across our state."

If the plan is enacted as proposed, Idaho would move up from 49th in the nation to 41st in 10 years. The state Board of Education is recommending that it launch this year.

By Betsy Z. Russell
[email protected]
(208) 336-2854

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/jan/10/idaho-lawmakers-mull-ambitious-plan-to-address-sta/