Maine hospitals concerned about charity care expansion and Medicaid cuts Jul 21, 2025 By Rose Lundy of the Maine Monitor AUGUSTA—A new law expands who is eligible for charity care in Maine while federal Medicaid cuts are expected to push tens of thousands off public insurance. A law signed by Gov. Janet Mills earlier this month will make more people in Maine eligible for free care at Maine … Continue reading “Gasoline on the Fire”
Nineteen MDI Hospital employees Jun 22, 2025 Share LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY We welcome letter submissions to The Bar Harbor Story; for details on our policy, please visit our about page and scroll down or just visit here. The beliefs, opinions, and viewpoints expressed by the writers of letters to the editor and included here do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, opinions, and viewpoints or official policies … Continue reading Letters From Our Readers
Legislators, Citizens Push Back on OB Unit and Other Closures in Rural Maine Carrie Jones May 08, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Shops. AUGUSTA—Multiple Hancock County legislators have cosponsored LD 1578, an “Act to Require the Department of Health and Human Services to Review Disruption to or Removal of Health Services,” which went before a state legislative committee, Wednesday afternoon, … Continue reading “Heartbreaking and Dangerous”
Carrie Jones Apr 04, 2025 Share BAR HARBOR—It was standing room only in person at Jesup Memorial Library as MDI Hospital CEO Christina Maguire and Board Chair Martha Wagner addressed the hospital’s decision to close its maternity ward, July 1. Others attended via Zoom. “We are immensely appreciative of the fact that you’ve taken part of your afternoon,” Wagner told the more than 150 people gathered … Continue reading Mount Desert Island Hospital Hosts Forum
Ellsworth hospital sees no issues delivering more babies. Carrie Jones Apr 02, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund. BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council, Tuesday, urged the Mount Desert Island Hospital to reconsider its decision to close its maternity unit. Vice Chair Maya Caines read a prepared statement on behalf of the councilors about the planned … Continue reading UPDATED: Bar Harbor Town Council Urges Hospital to Rethink Closure of Maternity Unit
Carrie Jones Mar 31, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Swan Agency Real Estate. BAR HARBOR—Local nurses are urging community members to sign a letter detailing three elements to strengthen the hospital’s obstetrics department rather than closing it, July 1. Well over 100 members of the Mount Desert Island community gathered with local nurses, Sunday afternoon, to discuss Mount Desert Island Hospital’s … Continue reading Hospital OB Nurses Rally Community & Urge People to Sign Petition To Keep Maternity Wing Open
Feb 27, 2025 Share By Emily Hedegard and Kate Cough of the Maine Monitor MAINE—When Nikki Mahar, who recently moved to Eastport from California, woke up in the middle of the night with stomach pains at 14 weeks pregnant, she and her husband rushed to the closest emergency room, in Calais. Seven weeks earlier, after another visit to the emergency room for unexpected bleeding, the couple had learned Mahar … Continue reading Maternity Services Dwindle: Nine Maine Hospitals Close or Announce Closures in Ten Years
