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September 9, 2025

Three more Maine health services to close amid statewide strain

By Laurie Schreiber

After a string of service and staff cutbacks across Maine’s health care industry, three more health services have also announced plans to close. 

They include a non-hospital-affiliated private practice in Fairfield, a Manchester care center and a maternal and child health program serving Hancock and Washington counties.

Downeast

The Maternal and Child Health program at Downeast Community Partners, serving Washington and Hancock counties, said this week that it will end on Sept. 30. 

The program termination is the result of the state’s decision to not continue contracts for maternal and child health nursing services, beyond those offered by the state’s public health nurses, in all but Maine’s five southernmost counties, according to the organization. A new request for proposals for the service was only issued for York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

Washington and Hancock counties were not included in the request for proposals.

“We would all love to continue with the program and the services it provides to our community members, but the lack of available funding makes that impossible,” said Jen Winter, nurse coordinator with the service.

Downeast's maternal and child health program has been staffed by three full-time and one per diem nurse, all with full caseloads. Three public health nurses have also maintained full caseloads in Hancock and Washington counties. 

Based on the numbers around families in need of nursing support versus nurses available, Winter expressed concern that “it may not be possible to provide families with the level of preventative education and support that is available through the current program.”

The program has been funded through a state contract for the past eight years, assisting hundreds of families throughout Hancock and Washington counties. In 2024, the program’s nurses supported 234 participants. In 2025 to date, they supported 199 participants and their families.

Families that will continue to need ongoing care beyond Sept. 30 are being transitioned to the Department of Health and Human Service’s public health nurses for follow-up.

Headquartered in Ellsworth, Downeast Community Partners provides multiple community services.

Manchester

Central Maine Healthcare’s Manchester Care Center, including its therapy and lab services, will close permanently on Oct. 31, according to an announcement on the centers website. After that date, patients will need to establish care with a new primary care provider.

The center, at 23 Bowdoin St., provided a list of recommended practices for future primary care.

“While this change may be unexpected, we are committed to supporting you through the transition,” the center said.

Central Maine Healthcare serves 400,000 people in central, western and midcoast Maine. Facilities include Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston and Bridgton and Rumford hospitals.

Earlier this year, the system said it would be acquired by Ontario, Calif.-based nonprofit Prime Healthcare Foundation, which pledged to invest $150 million in the facilities over the next five years and to expand services based on community needs.

Fairfield

Aurora Healthcare, at 121 Main St. in Fairfield, said it would close its practice, effective Dec. 1.

The non-hospital-affiliated private practice was established in 2020.

The center cited “a very difficult decision with these changing times.”

“We want to thank our dedicated patients over the last five years, who have allowed us to take care of their medical needs,” the center said in its announcement. “We will continue to see everyone as scheduled through the end of November.”

Industry struggles 

The latest closures come as the industry struggles with crippling costs, plummeting revenues and aging infrastructure.

Earlier this year, Waterville’s Northern Light Inland Hospital closed and MaineGeneral Health identified 148 positions where the system could achieve cost savings or restructuring. Labor and delivery at Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor, MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast and Houlton Regional Hospital closed.

York Hospital closed its inpatient birthing unit in 2023 and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston closed its maternity and women’s health unit in 2022.

St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston decided last year to suspend its intensive care unit.

Earlier this month, Northern Light Health closed a walk-in clinic in Bangor and reduced its workforce by approximately 3%, largely through attrition.

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