By Lauren McCauley | Editor
“This isn’t a hospital, it’s a morgue.” - Save Miles Labor and Delivery Facebook group wrote after MaineHealth announced it was closing the Damariscotta hospital birthing center.
Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. (Photo by Lauren McCauley/ Maine Morning Star)
PUBLIC HEALTH
By Lauren McCauley
The closure of a birthing center at a Damariscotta hospital is moving forward, the MaineHealth Board of Trustees announced Thursday, despite months of community opposition and concern about worsening health access for rural Mainers.
GOVERNMENT
By Eesha Pendharkar
Following months of accusations from national and state Republicans that Gov. Janet Mills’ administration had not done enough to combat fraud in the Medicaid program, the state on Wednesday announced it had suspended payments to five providers based on allegations of fraud.
GOVERNMENT
By Kaitlyn Budion
The Maine Supreme Court Tuesday ruled against nonprofit Penquis, ending a years-long debate over the state’s contract for Medicaid non-emergency transportation. The ruling means the Maine Department of Health and Human Services will move forward with the 10-year, $750 million statewide contract with Denver-based Modivcare.
OTHER TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Detained Maine Med nurse released from ICE, returned home | Lauren McCauley
String of outbreaks tests US public health system amid funding cuts, vaccine resistance | Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom
Trump again tries to curb birthright citizenship, following Supreme Court loss | Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
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