Sen. Mike Tipping appointed chair of the newly created Commission to Protect Maine Hospitals

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, Sept. 2, Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, was appointed by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, to chair the newly created Commission to Evaluate the Scope of Regulatory Review and Oversight Over Health Care Transactions that Impact the Delivery of Health Care Services in the State, established under LD 1578.

“In other states, it has been devastating to see the effects of private equity takeovers of hospitals,” said Sen. Tipping. “They’ve left a series of gutted and shuttered hospitals in their wake, cutting off access to care for some of the most vulnerable folks. I worry about the same thing happening here in Maine. As the Senate chair of this newly created commission, I am determined to protect Maine hospitals from this fate. My moratorium on the purchase and sale of hospitals was an important first step, but we need longer term policies and regulations.”

The Commission is tasked with evaluating certificate of need laws, the scope of review to disrupt or terminate health care services, review and oversight of health care transactions and the role of private equity companies or real estate investment trusts taking financial or operational control of a hospital in Maine. It will provide a report to the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee no later than Dec. 10, 2025.

Appointees consist of a bipartisan group of lawmakers; the executive director of the Office of Affordable Health Care; representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, health insurance carriers, hospitals and statewide associations of health care purchasers; and a lawyer with knowledge of certificate of need laws or acquisitions and mergers of health care entities. The appointments are made by the Governor, Senate President and Speaker of the House.

To learn more and subscribe to updates from the Commission to Evaluate Regulatory Review and Oversight of Health Care Transactions, visit https://legislature.maine.gov/commission-to-evaluate-regulatory-review-and-oversight-of-health-care-transactions. The meeting schedule will be announced online and via the email list once it is finalized.

LD 1578 received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee and in the Senate. Gov. Janet T. Mills signed it on July 1.

The Commission builds on a proposal that Sen. Tipping brought to the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, seeking to protect Maine’s non-profit hospitals for being bought by private equity companies and real estate investment trusts. LD 985 received a unanimous, bipartisan vote in the Committee and the Maine Legislature. As emergency legislation, which took effect immediately on June 22, it puts a moratorium on these types of sales.

Sen. Mike Tipping is currently serving his second term in the Maine Senate. He is the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Labor Committee. He also serves on the Government Oversight and Taxation Committees. He represents Senate District 8, which includes 26 cities and towns in central and northern Penobscot County.

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