Close to $71 million in federal funds will be directed toward Maine hospitals and health centers in the current fiscal year.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured the funds in congressionally directed spending. The Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, passed by the U.S. House and Senate, was recently signed into law.
Much of the funding will be directed to rural hospitals and is earmarked for capital projects like upgrades to emergency rooms and dental clinics.
“Mainers in every part of our state should be able to receive the vital medical services they need,” Collins said in a news release.
“This funding will support much-needed equipment and facility upgrades at hospitals and health centers, helping to expand and improve the quality of an array of health care services throughout the state,” she said.
Collins, who is an Aroostook County native and has held the Senate seat since 1997, is running for reelection in 2026.
Funding breakdown
Funding secured by Collins will be allotted as follows:
Northern Light Eastern Maine Health: $1.6 million to replace and modernize equipment across hospitals with labor and delivery units in Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, Portland and Presque Isle.
St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor: $6.8 million for expansion of the emergency department.
Bingham Area Health Center Dental Services: $650,000 for expansion.
Bridgton Hospital: $5 million for emergency department expansion.
Bucksport Regional Health Center: $1.98 million, for dental expansion.
Calais Community Hospital: $4.99 million for expansion and renovation of rural health clinic.
Pines Health Services, Caribou: $8.9 million, for construction of new health center.
Houlton Regional Hospital: $5.46 million, for facility and safety improvements.
MaineGeneral Health, Augusta: $5 million for facilities and equipment to support electronic medical records software upgrades.
Spurwink Lewiston Behavioral Health Center, Lewiston: $5.67 million, to renovate the behavioral health services facility.
St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Lewiston: $2.6 million, to renovate, expand and equip the behavioral health center.
Western Maine Health (MaineHealth), Stephens Memorial Hospital, Norway: $10.8 million, to construct and equip a new emergency department and oncology infusion center.
Rumford Hospital: $6.4 million for emergency department upgrades and equipment.
York Hospital: $5 million for facilities and equipment to support electronic medical records software upgrades.