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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S H E A L T H C A R E / W E L L N E S S In March, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services began imposing temporary MaineCare payment holds to hospitals and other health care providers. e department subsequently said it would release provider payments and rein- state normal payment operations by late June. Like the rest of the nation, Maine has been watch- ing debates over the status of federal funding for Medicaid and non-Medicaid programs. "We're not asking for more money. We're saying, stop the cutting," says Michaud. In early July, Northern Light Health, Maine's second-largest health care system headquartered in Brewer, said industry headwinds include the proposed changes to Medicaid as well as increased costs for supplies, pharmaceuticals and labor, combined with reduced post-pandemic volumes, low reimbursement and high denial rates from payers, and significant costs for contract and temporary labor. It's not all bad news. A growing suite of training programs and facilities, with high-tech patient simu- lators all the buzz, are tackling workforce shortages. ere's been a fair bit of new construction and upgrades [see sidebar]. "Not all hospitals or systems are hurting," says Michaud. "ey might be able to do other things and, in some cases, they might not have a choice. If you have a building that's not meeting code or is no lon- ger safe, you've got to do it and amortize it over time to make it more affordable." We are excited to join Mainebiz as a regional sponsor on Thursday, July 17th from 4-6pm at the Lockwood Hotel in Waterville. Join us for an informative night of networking and connection! Register online today at mainebiz.biz. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E ยป Construction efforts 2024 Maine Medical Center, Portland: Opens 300,000-square-foot Malone Family Tower. Northern Light Health's CA Dean Hospital, Greenville: Completes new main hospital, family wing and ambulance garage. 2025 York Hospital: Opens renovated cardiac catheterization lab. Calais Community Hospital: Baileyville Medical Center opening scheduled for September; physician and nurse practitioner hired to staff facility. Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor: Site prep underway for 42,600-square-foot expansion and modernization of main entrance, emergency department and surgical suites, with completion expected in 2028. MaineHealth Emergency Medical Services: Development underway of a more integrated emergency transport system, building toward 24/7 coverage at its sites; recruitment and equipment investments underway. MaineHealth Franklin Hospital: Phase one of five-phase emergency department modernization underway to support faster, more efficient care.