Connect with us

Maine

Maine’s health care policy must be informed by people on the front lines | Opinion

Published

on

Maine’s health care policy must be informed by people on the front lines | Opinion


Roger Poitras is CEO of InterMed.

Most of us learn early in life: don’t make medical decisions without consulting a health care professional. When it comes to shaping health care policy, we don’t always follow the same advice, but we should. And in Maine, we’re beginning to.

Our health care system is under real strain. Across the state, hospitals and medical practices are operating with thin margins, struggling to recruit and retain staff and making difficult decisions about which services they can sustainably offer.

Workforce shortages and rising costs are colliding with an aging population and growing demand for care. These pressures create uncertainty both for organizations trying to plan ahead, and for patients who worry about access, continuity and how far they’ll have to travel to receive care.

Advertisement

Against that backdrop, Maine convened a commission to examine how the state reviews major changes in health care. I had the honor of serving on that commission, and the experience was enlightening.

The process was thoughtful and grounded in a genuine commitment to ensuring patients and communities have access to care. Nonetheless, the experience also reinforced an important lesson: effective reform requires more than convening a group and hearing testimony; it requires expertise and the willingness to listen to those who live these realities every day. It also demands a sustained, two-way dialogue and a willingness to wrestle openly with perspectives that challenge initial assumptions.

There were times throughout the course of the commission that the discussion felt oriented toward validating specific solutions rather than fully examining the underlying problems they were meant to address. Given the commission’s scope and timeline, that structure is understandable. But it also points to a broader risk in health care policymaking: when discussions begin with conclusions rather than questions, the range of viable solutions can narrow before the work truly begins.

Health care does not operate in silos. Clinical decisions affect staffing. Staffing affects access. Access affects finances. Regulation touches all of it. When policy is developed without engaging in that full context, it can be well-intentioned but incomplete, or responsive in theory but difficult to implement in practice.

Meaningful reform depends on processes that invite not just agreement, but challenge, nuance and the lived realities of delivering care. This commission showed that Maine is willing to invite frontline voices into the conversation. That matters. But if we want policies that truly strengthen our health care system, the state must continue to invite health care professionals into the conversation earlier and more consistently.

Advertisement

At the same time, those of us who work in health care have a responsibility to join the conversation. This commission was my first experience serving in this type of role, and to be candid, it was not always comfortable. At times, the process felt constrained.

The outcomes are not guaranteed. But participation matters. If we choose not to engage because the process is imperfect, we leave critical decisions to those farther removed from day-to-day care.

The future of health care in Maine will be shaped by who shows up, who stays engaged and who is willing to offer practical, experience-based insight, even when it complicates the conversation.

It’s time to deepen the dialogue, broaden participation and create an ongoing partnership between policymakers and the people who deliver care. That is how we move from conversation to action, and how we ensure Maine’s health care system remains accessible, sustainable and centered on the patients and communities it serves.

Advertisement



Source link

Maine

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Published

on

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak


Are you up for a Maine food challenge, or are your eyes bigger than your stomach?

A Waterville staple, Buen Apetito has a monster burrito just waiting for someone to eat it down to the very last bite.

This thing is a beast, literally called La Bestia, and it’s definitely a mighty task for a fearless foodie.

Take on the Buen Apetito La Bestia Food Challenge in Waterville, Maine

According to Buen Apetito, if you can finish a super-sized burrito in 30 minutes or less, you’ll get the $60 meal for free, a La Bestia champion shirt, and a picture on the wall of fame. That’s not to mention the bragging rights of dominating a task few will be able to conquer.

Advertisement

Wondering what’s in the burrito?

The Mexican restaurant shared in a Facebook comment on a post that the burrito is filled with “grilled chicken, chorizo, and tender shredded beef or pork. Built on a layer of seasoned rice, refried beans, and French fries, it’s melted together with a shredded Mexican cheese blend and a drizzle of creamy cheese sauce, sautéed peppers and onions, green salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, creamy guacamole, and a bed of shredded lettuce all wrapped in three extra-large tortillas fused into one epic wrap.”

Let’s just say that this thing is packed full.

The first La Bestia contender took up his fork and knife in December 2025, but despite coming close, he couldn’t come out with the win.

As of March 2026, the challenge has remained undefeated. But you never know, someone is bound to come out victorious.

Advertisement

Just note that you can only try your hand at this food challenge on Wednesday and Thursday.

Buen Apetito Has Been a Longstanding Waterville, Maine, Restaurant

First opened in 1999, Buen Apeitito has been around for nearly 30 years.

Centralmaine.com reported that the Mexican restaurant was originally located at the Railroad Square complex off Chaplin Street before moving to 99 West River Road in 2023.

A little over a year later, in 2024, Buen Apetito shared on Facebook that it was passing on the torch to new owners, including Dalia, “the heart and soul of [the] kitchen for twenty years,” her daughter, Norma, and Norma’s husband, Shawn.

READ MORE: Famous Maine Restaurant Buen Apetito Adds Powerhouse New Owner to Crew

Advertisement

And it seems like not only are things still going strong, but new additions like La Bestia food challenge are only enhancing the spirit of big flavor and delicious Mexican food at the Waterville staple.

So, you think you’re up for the task of taking down a beast of a burrito at Buen Apetito? Good luck.

You Know You’re From Maine If You’ve Tried All 19 of These Foods

Here’s a number of foods associated with Maine. How many of them have you had?

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

The New York Time’s Best Restaurant Lists Feature These 7 Maine Spots

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Maine

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

Published

on

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities


BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Monday’s telethon held by WABI in partnership with Penquis and Heart of Maine United Way Monday raised money for the heating of homes, something so basic, yet so significant in a state like Maine.

Danielle Hewes, Penquis contributor and volunteer, says some people might not even know that they qualify for heating assistance.

“I think there’s this misconception that you can’t get that if you’re working. Like that’s just for people on general assistance. The truth of the matter is this is for the people that are maybe not able to work, but also for the people that are working. They’re making ends meet,” she said.

For Danielle, that’s what makes events like the telethon so special: it’s making a real difference in the community with people who need the help the most.

Advertisement

Speaking about Penquis in particular, she said, “You learn about all of the other things they do and how they help the community and you can’t help but want to be a part of that.”

If you weren’t able to donate Monday, donations are still being accepted.

You can go to homeunitedway.org/heat.

You can also call 941-2800.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Maine

Arizona Sen. Gallego endorses Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner

Published

on

Arizona Sen. Gallego endorses Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner


PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Democrat Graham Platner has picked up another high-profile endorsement in his bid to flip a key Senate seat blue, marking another sign of the oyster farmer and combat veteran’s political resiliency even as he continues to face controversy throughout his campaign.

Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he was backing Platner, saying that the first-time candidate “reflects the grit and independence that defines Maine.”

“Graham Platner is the kind of fighter Maine hasn’t seen in a long time, someone who tells you exactly what he thinks, doesn’t owe anything to the special interests, and wakes up every day thinking about working families,” said Gallego, who won a Senate seat in Arizona in 2024 by more than 2 points while Trump carried the state by nearly 6 points.

Platner has previously been endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat.

Advertisement

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has endorsed Platner’s main opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

Both Platner, 41, and Mills, 78, are hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 73, a five-term incumbent who announced last month that she was running for another term. A victory in Maine is crucial for Democrats’ efforts to take back control of the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do that in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.

READ MORE: Maine’s Graham Platner thinks voters will overlook his past to support a new type of candidate

Platner has gained traction with his anti-establishment image and economic equality message. He’s pressed forward despite controversies over old social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he recently had covered up.

Gallego is among the Democrats named as possible 2028 presidential contenders. Last fall, he stumped in New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, where he campaigned for Democrats who went on to win their elections.

Advertisement

“I have an immense amount of respect for him and I’m looking forward to joining him as a fellow Marine and combat infantryman in the U.S. Senate,” Platner said in a statement.

Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.


Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending