Community Benefit | MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Charity and Unpaid Care combined account for more than 10 percent of the total financial value MHMMC’s 2023 Community Benefit. Members of our communities rely on us to provide care when they need it the most, and it is our responsibility to ensure our neighbors have adequate access to health care resources regardless of their location, demographics or financial status.

During the 2023 fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023), MHMMC provided more than $22.5 million in Charity Care to more than 5,100 patients. We offer services ranging from primary and preventative care to emergency and specialty services, and helping patients navigate the complex health care environment through enrollment support and financial counseling.

MHMMC places a strong emphasis on preventive care, encouraging individuals to engage in regular check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations. This approach significantly improves health outcomes by catching issues such as hypertension, diabetes, or cancer in their early stages when they are more manageable and less expensive to treat. By removing the financial barrier to care, our Charity Care program encourages individuals to proactively manage their health.

The scope of our charity care programs expands in response to community need. We offer financial assistance to community members living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is above and beyond the 150 percent of the federal poverty level that is required by the State of Maine. Our contributions increased by more than $21 million from FY 2022 to FY 2023. We are honored to provide trusted, accessible health care that strengthens public health, so our communities are the healthiest in America.

A hospital stay can be particularly overwhelming for older adult patients, especially those susceptible to confusion and disorientation when placed in a new environment. MHMMC’s Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is an evidence-based interdisciplinary program focused on maintaining the well-being of senior patients who are more likely to develop a sudden change in mental status during hospitalization.

HELP, which began more than 20 years ago at MHMMC Portland and expanded to MHMMC Biddeford, identifies older hospitalized adults who are at risk for hospital-acquired delirium and functional decline and provides them with trained volunteers who visit daily. By engaging in simple activities such as frequent orientation and reminiscing, patients are less likely to develop hospital-acquired delirium. If not prevented or detected early, delirium may last six months or more, leading to functional decline, longer hospital stays, the potential need for long term care and the health care expenditures associated with additional care.

The program is available to eligible patients throughout the hospital.

Breastfeeding, while natural, is a learned skill that mom and baby figure out over time together. MHMMC Biddeford’s Breastfeeding Warmline is a program, offered at no cost, that helps parents navigate their breastfeeding journeys before, during and after their hospital stay. Through the Warmline, trained and experienced lactation consultants and nurses help mothers with information and breastfeeding tips for every stage of a baby’s first year. To best support our community, the program is available seven days a week, and during the 2023 fiscal year, Warmline care team members helped 468 new mothers reach their breastfeeding goals.

School-based health clinics (SBHCs) are a valued community resource that provide trusted, convenient care for busy teens in the Greater Portland area. The clinics offer easy access to a broad spectrum of services for students directly in the school setting so they can receive care without missing school.

MHMMC Portland employs the trusted medical staff who provide care at two community clinics – one at Deering High School in Portland and one at Westbrook High School. MHMMC covers provider salary for the clinics, which offer a broad range of services, from sick visits to sports physicals, reproductive care, mental health care and more. Students often feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues in a familiar environment, versus a more formal clinical space. The SBHCs also encourage students to access care independently, kickstarting the transition to an adult care model.