Sen. Mike Tipping presents final report of the Commission to Protect Maine Hospitals to legislative committee

Posted: January 09, 2026 | Senator Tipping

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, after months of meetings, Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, and Rep. Michelle Boyer, D-Cape Elizabeth, presented the final report of the Commission to Evaluate Regulatory Review and Oversight of Health Care Transactions That Impact the Delivery of Health Care Services in the State to the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

Last spring, Sen. Tipping sponsored a new law placing a one-year moratorium on the purchase of hospitals by private equity firms while the newly-formed Commission further studied the issue throughout the fall and winter. Sen. Tipping was appointed to serve as the Senate chair of the Commission. Other members of the Commission included representatives from the health care and hospital industry, long-term care and nursing home facilities, health insurance consumers, health insurance carriers and health care purchasers.

“Our health care system is in crisis, and the purchase of hospitals by private equity firms is part of the problem,” said Sen. Tipping. “With hospitals being gutted and scrapped, now is the time to provide some oversight and regulation over these transactions. The loss of health care services, especially in central and northern Penobscot County, makes it difficult for Mainers trying to start families of their own, manage chronic conditions or just live in rural Maine.”

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. All members, except for one, recommend the Legislature creates a task force to study the demand for long-term care, including the appropriate number of long-term care beds.

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

In the coming months, the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee can decide whether or not to develop any of the recommendations into bills for the Legislature to consider.

###