Maine

Maine health care providers warn of service cuts due to budget stalemate

Published

12 months ago

March 13, 2025

Maine health care providers warn of service cuts due to budget stalemate

AUGUSTA, Maine — Hospitals and health care providers are feeling pressure after the Legislature once again failed Tuesday night to pass a short-term budget that fills a $118 million MaineCare shortfall.

The State House dysfunction could cost Mount Desert Island Hospital up to $50,000 a week due to the state now delaying and capping payments from its Medicaid program amid lawmakers not yet passing a supplemental budget to immediately fill the funding gap.

“It will erode services,” MDI Hospital CEO Christina Maguire said Wednesday, describing how the hospital that also covers outer islands and parts of Hancock County will struggle to pay bills and hire staff amid budget delays.

Millinocket Regional Hospital CEO Robert Peterson said payment reductions will make it “increasingly difficult to cover our normal expenses in a timely manner” and noted the budget stalemate delays the state in paying his hospital a “large” settlement following an annual audit.

“It is imperative that our rural Maine hospitals remain viable and available to our residents,” Peterson said. “To risk failure of these hospitals due to a state budget shortfall is abhorrent.”

The dire sentiments came after Senate Republicans opposed Tuesday night a short-term budget that otherwise had bipartisan support in the House to fill a $118 million MaineCare gap and give $2 million to fight spruce budworm infestations. Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, has called her chamber back Thursday to reconsider the plan.

But it was unclear on Wednesday whether anything had changed to resolve the stalemate. Democrats can pass the measure by a simple majority, but it would not go into effect until June without two more votes from Republican senators.

Daughtry, Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, and House leaders crafted an amendment Monday that would limit General Assistance per recipient to 12 months in a 36-month period, force Gov. Janet Mills’ administration to give direct care workers a 1.95 percent cost-of-living increase lawmakers had previously approved and require a third party to study “waste, fraud and abuse” in MaineCare.

After the House overwhelmingly passed it, all Senate Republicans except for Sens. Rick Bennett of Oxford and Marianne Moore of Calais ended up opposing the short-term budget in a final vote Tuesday night. Stewart said his caucus wanted more changes to rein in MaineCare costs, such as work requirements President Donald Trump could push for at the federal level.

Stewart said he had only agreed Monday to bring the amended plan back to his members before making “very clear” to Daughtry and other Democrats on Tuesday his caucus would not support it unless it had “substantive welfare reform.” But Daughtry said Republicans “flipped” on Mainers and walked away “from a compromise that had been negotiated in good faith.”

“This brinksmanship is senseless and counterproductive,” Mills, a Democrat, said in a Wednesday statement. “Senate Republicans should honor this partisan agreement and pass this bill.”

The lack of a supplemental budget is showing up in this week’s pay cycle for MaineCare providers. The Mills administration said certain payments for critical access hospitals are now capped at 70 percent of their normal levels.

The state is also pausing all hospital claims greater than $50,000, all payments for large retail pharmacies and durable medical equipment providers and all payments for out-of-state providers. Independent pharmacies located in New Hampshire towns within 15 miles of the Maine border will continue to be paid, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

Northern Light Health Eastern Maine Medical Center President Ava Collins noted the system has already been struggling financially in recent months and said a lack of a supplemental budget costs the multi-hospital system about $6 million per month.

Rep. Jack Ducharme, R-Madison, a top appropriator who voted in favor of the short-term plan, said the latest indication on MaineCare funding is the state has enough money to last until the end of April. He acknowledged “a whole lot of fear” for health providers and said he is not sure what the Senate may do Thursday but is hopeful for a deal.

Ducharme added if Republican senators have opportunities to “get something that you want … then you should do that.”

Penobscot Community Health Center CEO Lori Dwyer, who leads Maine’s largest federally qualified health center that serves about 60,000 patients, said they will not see payment reductions until March 26. But Dwyer said PCHC does not yet know how much of a reduction it could see amid 38 percent to 40 percent of its patient revenue coming from MaineCare.

This delay and bigger cuts could force the health center with locations in Penobscot County as well as in Belfast and Jackson to reduce hours or temporarily close clinics, Dwyer added.

“This is a completely manufactured crisis that’s entirely avoidable,” Dwyer said.

BDN writers Marie Weidmayer and Michael Shepherd contributed to this story.

Source link

Maine

Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition

Published

7 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Rage Room in Portland, Maine, Developing ‘Scream Room’ Addition

For a lot of people throughout Maine, there’s some built up frustration that they’ve just been keeping inside.

That frustration can come in a lot of different forms. From finances to relationships to the world around you.

So it makes plenty of sense that a rage room opened in Portland, Maine, where people can let some of that frustration out.

It’s called Mayhem and people have been piling in to smash, crush and do dastardly things to inanimate objects that had no idea what was coming.

But Mayhem has realized not everyone is down with swinging a sledgehammer. So they’ve decided to cook up something new.

Mayhem Creating ‘Scream Room’ at Their Space in Portland, Maine

Perhaps the thought of swinging a baseball bat and destroying a glass vase brings you joy. The thought of how sore your body will be after that moment makes you less excited.

Mayhem Portland has heard you loud and clear and is developing a new way to get the rage out. By just screaming.

Mayhem is working on opening their very first scream room. It’s exactly what you think it is, a safe place to spend some time just screaming all of the frustration out.

There isn’t an official opening date set yet but it’s coming soon along with pricing.

Mayhem in Portland, Maine, Will Still Offer Rage Rooms and Paint Splatter

While a scream room is on the way, you can still experience a good time at Mayhem with one of their rage rooms or a paint splatter room.

Both can be experienced in either 20-minute or 30-minute sessions.

All the details including some age and attire requirements can be found here.

TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Things to do in Portland, Maine

Looking for fun things to do in Portland, ME? Here is what the reviewers on TripAdvisor say are the 10 best attractions.

This list was updated in March of 2026

Gallery Credit: Chris Sedenka

Top 15 of The Most Powerful People in Maine

Ever wonder who the most powerful players are in Maine? I’ve got a list!

Gallery Credit: Getty Images

Source link

Maine

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

Published

19 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

Source link

Maine

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

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

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.

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.

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

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.