Davis’ bill would encourage doctors to practice in rural areas

    AUGUSTA, Maine — State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) has introduced a bill that would provide tax incentives to doctors who practice in rural Maine.
    The bill, LD 740 “An Act to Sustain Maine’s Primary Care Professional Workforce,” had a public hearing last week before the legislature’s Taxation Committee.

    Last year, the legislature passed a bill that provides income tax credits to primary care physicians who practice in areas where there is a shortage of doctors or patients need to travel long distances for appointments.
    Under the current law, doctors in rural areas receive tax credits of $6,000 for the first year of eligibility, increasing yearly to $18,000 the fifth year. After that, the income tax credit ends.
    LD 740 extends those tax breaks from new doctors to those who are already practicing in rural areas.
    “This has been a terrific program that gives incentives to doctors to provide care where there is currently a shortage: our smaller communities,” Davis said. “LD 740 will help encourage those medical professionals who are already here to stay and take advantage of those same benefits newcomers are getting. I see this as a big win for both the doctors and patients, and I’m glad to sponsor this legislation.”
    One of those who testified in favor of the bill was Angela Westhoff, executive director of the Maine Osteopathic Association, who said that Maine is facing a shortage of primary care physicians. “Each of our state’s 16 counties has regions designated as federally underserved, meaning there is less than one primary care physician for every 3,500 patients,” Westhoff said. “Anything we can do to create positive conditions to recruit and retain primary care doctors, including income tax credits, should be aggressively pursued.”
    The bill received a unanimous vote of approval in the Taxation Committee. It will now go before the full legislature.