Legislation, property sales, layoffs, program closures and partnerships are among the measures the two Lewiston hospitals have taken in recent years to address what officials say is a huge unexpected cost of filling critical vacant positions and dealing with low government reimbursement rates.
Health
Legislation would regulate hidden medical facility fees
A proposal before the Legislature would ban so-called facility fees from being charged for telehealth appointments and require more transparency about when patients will be charged such fees.
COVID better contained 4 years later, but long-haul cases still not well understood
Though gathering restrictions and mask mandates are gone, vaccines remain the best defense while the coronavirus continues to circulate and researchers try to find treatments for long COVID.
New state law makes medical bills in Maine more transparent
Health care providers must now identify where services were provided when submitting claims.
All Maine students now get free school lunches. What does that mean for poverty data?
A number of schools have adopted the Community Eligibility Provision, which looks at reliance on public benefits such as SNAP and TANF.
Future of emergency services in central Maine up for debate as Delta Ambulance raises rates
As town officials worry about rising costs, Delta said it is giving them a good deal, and that its struggles are not unique.
Friday is the last day you can order free COVID tests from the government
The U.S. government is suspending mail orders for free COVID-19 tests – at least for now.
How springing forward to daylight saving time could affect your health – and how to prepare
Losing an hour of sleep as daylight saving time kicks in can do more than leave you tired and cranky the next day. It also could harm your health.
Committee backs bill requiring health insurance to cover non-prescription birth control
The bill, inspired by federal approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, now faces votes in the House and Senate.
Mills administration wants to roll back law expanding financial support for older Mainers
The governor’s administration wants to scale back legislation expanding access to the Medicare Savings Program, which helps many older residents cover health care costs.