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Updated: September 22, 2025

MaineHealth launches member-based ‘direct care’ service

By Laurie Schreiber

MaineHealth, Maine’s largest health care system, will use the membership-based health care model for its first direct primary care practice.

MaineHealth developed Trellis Health as a wholly owned subsidiary. The membership model includes a primary care provider, behavioral health specialist, pharmacist, physical therapist and a health coach.

The practice is at 1945 Congress St., Building C, Suite 101, in Portland. The location is part of the Gateway Business Park and MaineHealth leases the space.

The goal is to address rising costs, limited access, fragmented services and growing rates of provider burnout. 

The model charges a monthly fee to cover services, including in-person visits, virtual care and care coordination.

There are an estimated 2,600 direct primary care practices across the U.S. One of them, Apotheosis Health, opened earlier this year in Bangor.

At Trellis, the model is designed to simplify access and payment, said Tamara StClaire, the company’s president and MaineHealth’s chief business transformation officer. 

MaineHealth began offering Trellis memberships to its employees at the end of 2024. The Portland practice is now open to the general public. Individual and household memberships starting at $109 a month. Trellis also offers employer-sponsored memberships as part of employee benefit packages.

Federal regulations don’t allow Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries to participate in direct primary care models like Trellis Health. But recent legislation made it possible for individuals to use money from their health savings accounts to cover the monthly membership fee, starting January 2026.

Trellis could improve access to care, lower costs and improve patient experience and health, said Andy Mueller, the organization’s CEO.

About MaineHealth

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. 

Hospitals include Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, Franklin in Farmington, Lincoln in Damariscotta, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, Memorial in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast in Brunswick, Pen Bay in Rockport, Stephens in Norway and Waldo in Belfast; as well as Barbara Bush Children’s in Portland, Behavioral Health in Westbrook, Home Health and Hospice in Saco, and Institute for Research, Medical Group and NorDx in Scarborough. 

Affiliates include MaineGeneral 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.

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