MaineHealth proposes consolidation of members' budget decisions
Portland-based MaineHealth, Maine’s largest health network with member hospitals spread throughout 10 communities in the state, is proposing combining their budgetary functions into a single $2 billion organization.
The Bangor Daily News reported that the proposed new organization would be overseen by one governing board, instead of the current system in which member hospitals identify spending priorities locally for later review by the MaineHealth board.
The proposal is in a very early phase. The newspaper reported that it would affect Maine Medical Center in Portland, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Boothbay and Damariscotta, Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast, and Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway.
Andy Coburn, a rural health expert at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service, told the newspaper that MaineHealth’s big hurdle will be persuading its member hospitals to give up local control on spending decisions.
“People don’t want to give up their ability to govern themselves,” he said.
MaineHealth said the consolidation would allow it to shift resources where they are most needed in the network, the newspaper reported.
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