Call Your Legislators Today – Two Urgent Issues Impacting Hospitals
Hospitals across Maine need your help. Maine lawmakers are making final decisions on two proposals that will hurt hospitals across the state. Please contact your legislators this weekend and urge them to:
OPPOSE cuts to hospitals in the state budget
OPPOSE the expansion of mandatory free (charity) care
Oppose Budget Cuts to Hospitals
The proposed state budget includes three harmful changes:
- $75 million annual cut to hospital payments over 5 years.
- A new hospital tax to fund HealthInfoNet.
- No funding for promised cost-of-living increases (COLAs) for inpatient care.
Why this matters: Hospitals already pay $180 million a year in state taxes and are being asked to do more with less—again. These cuts ignore rising costs and broken promises and risk service cuts and closures.
Tell legislators: Hospitals are not the cause of budget issues. Don’t cut their funding or raise their taxes.
Oppose Expansion of Mandatory Free Care (LD 1937)
We currently provide free care and sliding scale benefits to our patients, and we will not turn away anyone who needs immediate care. We also have a patient financial counselor to help navigate payment options and qualification for coverage of services. Lawmakers are considering a massive expansion to the existing state charity care law, including:
- Covering non-Mainers and non-citizens
- Increasing income limits
- Requiring hospitals to offer extended payment plans
- Mandating costly administrative changes
Why this matters: Maine hospitals already provided $180 million in free care last year—more than they earned. They are struggling with workforce shortages, closures, delayed Medicaid payments, and looming federal cuts. Now is not the time to add more financial pressure.
Tell legislators: This bill will make it harder for hospitals to stay open, especially in rural areas. Maine hospitals are generous already. We need support, not more mandates.
Who to Contact
Senate and House Democrats are key decision-makers. Please reach out to them—especially if they’re on the Appropriations Committee.
Senator Margaret Rotundo (Chair) – Margaret.Rotundo@legislature.maine.gov
Senator Cameron Reny – Cameron.Reny@Legislature.Maine.gov
Rep. Drew Gattine (Chair) – Andrew.Gattine@legislature.maine.gov
Rep. Michael Brennan – Michael.Brennan@Legislature.Maine.gov
Rep. Kristen Cloutier – Kristen.Cloutier@Legislature.Maine.gov
Rep. Deqa Dhalac – Deqa.Dhalac@Legislature.Maine.gov
Rep. Ambureen Rana – Ambureen.Rana@Legislature.Maine.gov
Rep. Holly Stover – Holly.Stover@Legislature.Maine.gov
If you can only contact a few people, start with Senate Democrats. They’ll vote first.
Thank you for standing up for all Maine hospitals and the care they provide in your community.