Emergency bill to better protect the public when hospital birthing centers are slated to close goes to Governor’s desk

Posted: March 31, 2026 | Senator Tipping

AUGUSTA – LD 2189, a bill recommended by the Commission on Hospitals and Health Care to better protect patients and the public when birthing centers are slated to close passed unanimously in the Senate today, following a vote of 116 to 8 in the House of Representatives last week. The Legislature added an emergency clause to the bill, ensuring its protections will take effect immediately if it becomes law.

“Too many Mainers live in a childbirth desert, having to travel for hours to give birth,” said Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono. “Requiring a three-month period before a closure so patients can make plans and solutions can be explored is the least we should be doing to address the health care crisis in rural Maine.”

“In the past year alone, we’ve seen four hospitals across Maine close their birthing centers, forcing families to scramble and create new birthing plans with very little notice,” said Rep. Michelle Boyer, D-Cape Elizabeth. “This bill will provide an important protection for patients as we work to ensure access to care in a shifting health care landscape.”

This past fall, Sen. Tipping and Rep. Boyer chaired the Commission to Evaluate Regulatory Review and Oversight of Health Care Transactions That Impact the Delivery of Health Care Services in the State, from which this bill was one recommendation.

LD 2189 requires that a hospital provide at least 120 days’ notice prior to the termination of maternity or newborn care services or of a change in the level of care a hospital provides for maternity and newborn care services. In the last decade, at least 10 hospital birthing centers have closed in Maine. Earlier this month, Downeast OB/GYN in Bangor announced that it will close its practice in July.

Overall, the Commission worked on 14 recommendations for the full Legislature to consider, including potential changes related to:

  • the Certificate of Need Program
  • the regulatory oversight over health care transactions
  • the role of private equity investment in health care  

Additionally, the Commission made potential recommendations with a broader scope, including recommending that the Legislature re-establish statewide health care services planning. A majority of the members recommend a prohibition on provider non-compete clauses and non-disparagement clauses in contracts with licensed health care professionals.

The final report is available online here. All of the Commission’s work can be found online here.

Other members of the Commission included health care stakeholders such as representatives of the hospital industry, long-term care and nursing home facilities, health insurance consumers, health insurance carriers and health care purchasers.

LD 2189 now goes to the Governor’s desk, where she has 10 days to sign the bill, allow it to become law without her signature or veto it.

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