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MaineHealth, the state’s largest healthcare system, is considering closing the birthing unit at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta. A decision could be made this week.
If the unit closes, it would be the 12th closure of a maternity unit at a Maine hospital in the past decade. The closures highlight the ongoing challenges of providing an array of healthcare services in a rural state with a relatively small population.
Officials at MaineHealth and Lincoln Hospital have said that a difficulty in staffing the unit and the declining number of patients prompted the consideration of shuttering the birthing unit.
Hospital officials have said it has been difficult to recruit obstetricians and midwives to work at the rural hospital. Lincoln Hospital has one part-time OB/GYN and two midwives, while a full staff would be four obstetricians and four midwives. There have been about 130 births annually at the Damariscotta hospital in recent years, down from 200 annually two decades ago.
News of the potential closure has galvanized Maine political leaders and candidates, regardless of party affiliation. For example, all three candidates for governor — Republican Bobby Charles, Democrat Hannah Pingree and independent Rick Bennett — have asked Lincoln hospital to keep its birthing unit open.
Gov. Janet Mills has asked MaineHealth to delay a decision for two years to explore alternatives. One suggestion, from a group of doctors, is for the Damariscotta Hospital to share medical staff with nearby hospitals in Brunswick and Rockland. Another suggestion is to train other doctors, such as primary care physicians, to deliver babies.
In a letter to MaineHealth leaders, Mills noted that Maine is receiving $190 million in Rural Health Transformation Program funds that could alleviate some hospital financial strains. The money is meant to partially offset the impact of cuts in federal funding as a result of the passage of last year’s massive tax cut and spending bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. Of course, this new federal funding would not be necessary if the bill had not cut federal Medicaid funding and the transition funds do not fully cover the Medicaid cuts.
Reports and analysis before the bill passage last summer warned that hundreds of the nation’s hospitals, including several in Maine, could close because of the cuts in the controversial legislation.
The potential closure of the birthing unit in Damariscotta, and the financial struggles of hospitals throughout Maine and the country, are very real problems that demand more than political statements and rallies, and standard financial calculations. They demand hard conversations, transparency and a full understanding of the many pressures and problems with our healthcare systems and their funding.
For example, it may not be economically sustainable for the hospital in Damariscotta to maintain a fully staffed birthing unit. It is also true that it is dangerous for women to travel great distances for prenatal care and to deliver their babies. And, communities are degraded and may find it hard to attract new residents if nearby medical facilities don’t offer an array of basic medical services.
All sides of the problem must be heard, understood and addressed to arrive at viable solutions to these questions. We commend all those involved and concerned about this proposal, including a grassroots coalition that did an extensive review of the situation, for proposing realistic alternatives and for keeping this important conversation going.
