Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to support workforce development in rural areas by addressing the shortage of cancer care clinicians. It seeks to provide specialized training and resources to increase the number of qualified oncology professionals in rural Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• The bill allocates $300,000 for fiscal year 2026 and another $300,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund.
• The funds are intended for a grant to the Rural Cancer Institute.
• The goal is to launch a pilot program designed to expand the clinical workforce specifically for oncology care in rural areas.
• The program will utilize a community-based model to train healthcare students in skills necessary for cancer care in rural settings.
• The program emphasizes increasing the number of cancer care clinicians and equipping them with the necessary skills to operate effectively in a rural environment.

Significant Changes

• Introduction of a pilot program aimed specifically at enhancing oncology care capabilities in rural districts through targeted workforce development.
• A focus on rural healthcare by using a community-based training model to increase the oncology workforce.
• This initiative represents a one-time funding commitment to address current healthcare workforce shortages in rural Minnesota.

Relevant Terms

workforce development, Rural Cancer Institute, oncology care, rural districts, cancer care clinicians, community-based model, workforce shortage, healthcare training, pilot program.