Bill description: State Board of Education, Health Education Programs, Fiscal Year 2021

Rating: -1

Analysis:

This appropriation requests an additional $1.25 million in general fund dollars, 1.00 FTP, and 25 new resident positions at five existing residency programs with a funding level of $50,000 per resident. 

The rationale for using taxpayer dollars to fund medical residencies is that Idaho has a shortage of doctors in rural areas. According to data on page 1-86 of the FY21 LBB, only 50% of those residents return to Idaho to practice. In effect, Idaho’s taxpayers are paying for the other half of these practitioners who end up practicing in other states.