Committee considers grants to cross‑train staff to preserve rural maternity units

Senator Drayheim told the committee that Senate File 3651 is a blank appropriation from the workforce development fund intended to support training to maintain maternity units in rural hospitals.

"Grants will be provided to eligible rural hospitals and higher ed institutions for developing and employing cross‑training programs to provide medical personnel with the skills necessary for rural maternity services," Senator Drayheim said, summarizing the bill.

Richard Asch, introduced as CEO of United Hospital District, told senators his critical access hospital serves South Central Minnesota and northern Iowa and is now the last hospital along that I‑90 corridor able to provide continuous obstetric services. "Babies don't schedule their arrival between 8AM and 5PM, and rural hospitals need to be ready every minute of the day," Asch said, arguing that maintaining maternity care is both a health‑care and an economic development issue.

Senators asked for details on who would receive training. Senator Graham suggested cross‑training support staff and continuing education as a practical approach to staffing shortages: "We need to, probably cross‑train or maybe have some more continuing ed type training for some of these trained medical support staff to help out in deliveries," he said.

A letter of support from the Minnesota Rural Health Association was noted in the committee packet. Members laided Senate File 3651 over for possible inclusion; no appropriation was approved at the hearing. The committee flagged the issue as part of broader concerns about rural hospital service erosion and maternal‑health access.

Next steps: the bill was laid over for possible inclusion on a later committee package; committee members requested program details and targets before further consideration.