Lawmakers have convened in Salem, contemplating ways to trim spending. One idea among many? Reduce pay to teaching hospitals for medical residencies and fellowships.
The education programs give medical school graduates hands-on experience before they get their license, and the idea to dial back state support is not widely beloved.
In early November—when the projected state budget shortfall looked bleaker than it did as of Tuesday—the Oregon Health Authority listed the possible $29 million graduate medical education cut among many others in a report to help the Legislature understand the impacts of different budget reductions lawmakers might need to make. The idea was to help them prepare for a range of fiscal scenarios…