Sen. Bailey, Rep. Mathieson to convene special committee meeting in wake of the MaineHealth vote to close the Miles Labor and Delivery Unit in Damariscotta
AUGUSTA — On Thursday, August 27, co-chairs Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, and Rep. Kristi Mathieson, D-Kittery, will convene the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee for a public hearing. In the wake of the recent vote by MaineHealth to close the Miles Labor and Delivery Unit at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, the Committee will focus on the challenges that led to this decision. It will also explore possible solutions.
“Last session, in our committee, we worked on a new emergency law that requires hospitals to provide 90-day notice for the closure of labor and delivery units at their facilities,” said Sen. Bailey. “Now that another hospital is terminating this critical healthcare service, we have decided to hear more about the challenges. We also cannot waste any time in coming up with solutions to maintain these services and prevent future closures.”
“Over the last decade, nearly a dozen Maine birthing centers have closed their doors,” said Rep. Mathieson. “As more Mainers confront the loss of these critical services, our committee will work to preserve maternal care in rural communities through evidence-based strategies and do everything in our power to ensure families can rely on timely, high-quality support during pregnancy and childbirth.”
The Committee will meet at 10 a.m. in the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee Room (Room 220) at the Burton M. Cross Office Building in Augusta. Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in person. It will also be livestreamed online at legislature.maine.gov/Audio/#220.
Sen. Bailey and Rep. Mathieson will be available for comment before, after or during breaks in the meeting.
The Committee will receive briefings from stakeholders on issues related to the delivery of maternal health services in the State, including the availability of labor and delivery services in Maine hospitals. More information about the meeting, including the agenda, will be available on the Committee’s webpage: legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees/HCIFS.
HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INTERIM COMMITTEE MEETING DETAILS
WHAT: HCIFS Interim Committee Meeting
WHO: Sen. Donna Bailey, Senate Chair; Rep. Kristi Mathieson, House Chair
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
WHERE: HCIFS Committee Room (Room 220), Burton M. Cross Office Building, Augusta
ONLINE: legislature.maine.gov/Audio/#220
In the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature, Rep. Mathieson sponsored LD 2189, an emergency measure that requires 90-day-notice for the closure of labor and delivery units and changes in maternity or newborn care services. It was signed into law and took effect immediately on April 3, 2026.
On August 4, Sen. Bailey co-signed a letter from Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, and Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, urging MaineHealth to delay a final vote on the closure of the Miles Labor and Delivery Unit at MaineHealth’s Lincoln Hospital until the 133rd Legislature convenes in January 2027. On Thursday, August 6, the Board of Trustees voted to close the unit, effective December 18, 2026.
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