Maine Republican lawmakers are blaming years of Democratic healthcare policies for the proposed closure of the labor and delivery unit at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital, arguing the move is the latest consequence of chronic underfunding of the state’s hospital system.
The criticism comes after members of the 132nd Maine Legislature sent a letter to the MaineHealth Board of Trustees urging the organization not to move forward with plans to close the birthing unit. Lawmakers noted that 11 hospital labor and delivery units have closed across Maine since 2015 and said preserving access to maternity care in rural communities should be a bipartisan priority.
Republican leaders said they agree with the goal of preventing additional closures but contend the underlying causes stem from years of Democratic control of state government and what they describe as inadequate MaineCare reimbursement policies.
According to Republican lawmakers, their caucus has repeatedly introduced legislation aimed at increasing payments to hospitals, including LD 331, which would have directed the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure timely MaineCare reimbursements based on hospital cost reports. Republicans also pointed to a proposed amendment to the supplemental budget that would have required DHHS to make overdue payments to hospitals.
Both proposals were rejected by the Democratic majority.
Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) said the closure is a predictable outcome of years of state healthcare policy.
“Democrats have had complete control of state government for nearly eight years. During that time, they have added hundreds of thousands of residents to MaineCare without ensuring the state could afford to pay hospitals fully and on time. Hospitals have suffered because of Democrats’ failure to pay, and the unfortunate but predictable result of years of mismanagement is hospital closures,” Stewart said. “This trend will only persist if Democrats stay in control and continue to fail the people of Maine.”
House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) argued that state spending priorities have come at the expense of core public services.
“Democrats have squandered our tax dollars on special interest groups, out-of-state profiteers and noncitizens at the expense of critical needs, like healthcare, roads, bridges and families trying to survive their spending spree,” Faulkingham said. “Total Democrat control has led to hospital, nursing home and assisted living facility closures with no end in sight.”
Assistant Senate Republican Leader Matt Harrington (R-York) characterized recent efforts by Democratic lawmakers to oppose the closure as inconsistent with their legislative record.
“Legislative Democrats acting as if they care about protecting our hospitals while opposing policies to ensure they are properly funded is pure election-year theater,” Harrington said. “The Legislature has had multiple opportunities to address the root causes of this crisis. Unfortunately, the majority party has repeatedly chosen to spend Mainers’ tax dollars on pet projects rather than ensure hospitals receive the funding they are owed.”
Assistant House Republican Leader Katrina Smith (R-Palermo) said the closure highlights broader demographic and healthcare challenges facing the state.
“Maine is the oldest state in the country and needs to promote, not prevent, young families from living here,” Smith said. “Democrats had no problem permanently giving taxpayer dollars to fund Planned Parenthood abortions at the expense of birthing centers and people trying to create and raise families.”
The debate over Lincoln Hospital’s labor and delivery unit comes as maternity care continues to shrink across rural Maine. According to lawmakers’ letter, 11 hospital birthing units have closed statewide since 2015, forcing many expectant mothers to travel significantly farther for obstetric care.
The proposed closure has drawn concern from lawmakers across the political spectrum, though Republicans argue the current crisis could have been mitigated through higher MaineCare reimbursement rates and more timely payments to hospitals.
The MaineHealth Board of Trustees has not yet announced a final decision on the future of the Lincoln Hospital labor and delivery unit.
