A network of hospitals and health services providers in central Maine has been acquired by a California group that has pledged to invest $150 million in the system over the next five years.

Central Maine Healthcare, which includes Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital, is now part of California-based Prime Healthcare Foundation, according to a news release from the foundation.

The acquisition also includes the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, LifeFlight of Maine’s central Maine base, the Maine College of Health Professions in Lewiston and more than 40 physician practices.

“We are honored to extend our mission to the communities of Maine and are committed to preserving Central Maine Healthcare’s legacy, expanding educational opportunities, and ensuring compassionate, equitable care for generations to come,” said Kavitha Bhatia, president and chair of Prime Healthcare Foundation, in the release.

The move comes as Central Maine Healthcare has struggled with funding deficits and its leaders have been looking for ways to inject new capital into its hospitals. CMHC CEO Steve Littleson told the Sun Journal in January 2025 that the deal, already in the works, was not one in which the Maine network would be “sold” but characterized it instead as joining with a new partner.

“We didn’t sell our health system,” Littleson said at the time. “We signed an agreement with a partner who has made commitments over a period of years.”

The transaction is a “member substitution agreement in which Prime Healthcare Foundation becomes the sole corporate member and parent organization of Central Maine Healthcare,” said Noel True, regional vice president for communications and public relations for Prime, in an email Monday.

“As such, it is not an asset purchase with a purchase price to disclose,” True said.

Under the new structure, True said, Central Maine Healthcare becomes part of the foundation, and the foundation assumes all debts, obligations and costs, while also committing $150 million in capital investments.

In November, the state outlined a series of conditions for approval of the acquisition, all of which True said will be maintained. The conditions include that the new owner continue to operate all three hospitals without any “material changes” in the levels of essential services, and that they continue to operate the long-term care facilities Bolster Heights Residential Care and Rumford Community Home.

True noted, however, that the state’s condition that Central Maine Medical Center maintain trauma hospital certification for at least one year “is under modification as trauma services were suspended prior to the issuance of the conditions.”

CMMC said last fall that it would end its status as a trauma center hospital due to high costs associated with the certification program, though it said it would continue to have an emergency department and there would be no real impact on care.

 “The Foundation will work to reinstate trauma care and meanwhile will continue to play an important part of the trauma system in Maine,” True said.

The acquisition represents the first hospitals for Prime in Maine, though the group already operates in seven other states. All Central Maine Healthcare facilities will retain their current names and local leadership, Prime said, and “substantially all” employees will be kept on staff.

Prime also pledged to invest $150 million over the next five years “to strengthen facilities, services, and infrastructure,” and said it will continue and expand services based on community needs.

“Prime Healthcare Foundation was selected to steward these hospitals into the future after a comprehensive evaluation of mission alignment, values, and demonstrated success investing in hospitals that serve vulnerable communities,” said Devore Culver, chairman of the Central Maine Healthcare board of directors.

“Following regulatory review and careful diligence, we are confident this partnership secures a stable, vibrant future for healthcare in central Maine.”