MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Contributes Nearly $577 Million in Total Community Benefit in FY 2023

Contact: Caroline Cornish | [email protected]

PORTLAND, Maine - MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) released its Community Benefit Report this week, demonstrating $577 million in total benefit to the Southern Maine region in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023.

"Community Benefit is at the core of our not-for-profit mission of providing care to the community, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching new ways to provide care," said Britt Crewse, President of MHMMC. "Our latest Community Benefit Report demonstrates MHMMC's dedication to improving the health and well-being of our communities through contributions, community programs, outreach initiatives and more. An impact like this can only be achieved as a team, and I am grateful for our hospitals, clinics and care team members for their commitment to making a difference."

The fiscal year community data is self-reported in accordance with federal guidelines and is required as part of the hospital's tax-exempt status. The accounting captures both mandatory and voluntary programs and contributions created in response to community need. Community benefit programs do not take the place of required taxes that MHMMC pays at the local, state and federal levels.

During FY 2023, MHMMC provided more than $22.5 million in Charity Care to more than 5,100 patients, offering primary and preventative care and emergency and specialty services and helping patients navigate the complex health care environment through enrollment support and financial counseling. By removing financial barriers to care, MHMMC's Charity Care program encourages individuals to proactively manage their health, catching critical health issues in their early stages when they are more manageable and less expensive to treat.

During the 2023 fiscal year, MHMMC dedicated $267,994 to employ physicians for school-based health clinics 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 and Biddeford also contributed nearly $53,000 to continuing the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). 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. The program identifies older hospitalized adults who are at risk for hospital-acquired delirium and functional decline and provides them with trained volunteers who visit regularly and engage in simple but valuable activities.

The hospital attributes the greatest portion of its community benefit to the following programs: Health professions education; provider employment covered to offer subsidies to the community for specialty or high-risk care; charity care and bad debt (unpaid balances); subsidization of government-payer programs that do not pay the full cost of care (Medicare and MaineCare); biomedical research; and subsidized health services such as specialized clinics, support services and behavioral health.

Community Benefit expenditures in fiscal year 2023 were made through MHMMC Portland and MHMMC Biddeford, Sanford.

Members of the community can view the MHMMC Community Benefit Report here.

###

About MaineHealth
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, "Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America," and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.