Resolve, to Protect and Enhance Access to Behavioral Health Services in Androscoggin County and Surrounding Communities
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2105
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: ROTUNDO, CLOUTIER, BALDACCI, TIMBERLAKE, ABDI, CRAVEN, GATTINE, LAJOIE, LEE, SHAW

Legislative Document
No. 2105
S.P. 898
In Senate, January 3, 2024
Resolve, to Protect and Enhance Access to Behavioral Health 
Services in Androscoggin County and Surrounding Communities
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representative CLOUTIER of Lewiston and
Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representatives: ABDI 
of Lewiston, CRAVEN of Lewiston, GATTINE of Westbrook, LAJOIE of Lewiston, LEE of 
Auburn, SHAW of Auburn.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, or "St. Mary's," is the 
only provider of most acute behavioral health care services in the region that it serves, 
which includes Androscoggin County and surrounding communities; and
Whereas, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related factors have resulted in 
extraordinary operating losses for St. Mary's in recent years, which are projected to 
continue in 2024, and these losses have disproportionately arisen from the delivery of a 
wide range of acute behavioral health care services; and
Whereas, the recent, tragic mass shooting in Lewiston and its severe impact on the 
community has highlighted the need for expanded behavioral health services in the greater 
Lewiston-Auburn region, a need that has grown rapidly and has outstripped the existing 
capacity of health care providers to care for those with serious behavioral health needs; and
Whereas, although St. Mary's is taking a wide range of measures to improve its 
operating results, including measures aimed at reducing overhead expenses, the magnitude 
of its losses will, if not remedied, force it to abandon its carefully developed plans to 
provide new and expanded behavioral health services to meet this existing and growing 
need and potentially to curtail behavioral health services and other services to address the 
unavailability of funds to cover its losses; and
Whereas, St. Mary's is also a key provider of other services to underserved 
populations in the region that it serves and thus a crucial contributor to this State's efforts 
to address disparities in access to health care, yet these services also will be in jeopardy if 
temporary relief from the losses associated with providing acute behavioral health care 
services cannot be provided; and
Whereas, it is therefore essential to provide immediate funding support for St. Mary's 
to bridge the gap as it implements plans that will reduce costs and improve services in the 
future; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Emergency funding to preserve health care access.  Resolved: That 
the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide a grant of emergency funding 
to sustain and improve behavioral health care services delivered by St. Mary's Regional 
Medical Center in Lewiston, reflecting the medical center's estimate of losses and 
immediate needs.  Funds made available by this resolve must be disbursed no later than 
July 1, 2024.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  Resolved:  That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Z199
Initiative: Provides emergency one-time funding to St. Mary's Regional Medical Center to 
cover projected operating losses in the fiscal period beginning January 1, 2023 and ending 
June 30, 2024 and to sustain and improve acute behavioral health care services.
GENERAL FUND
2023-24
2024-25
All Other
$0
$10,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$10,000,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide 
emergency funding to cover operating losses associated with providing acute behavioral 
health care services provided by St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston to ensure 
that those services can be continued and expanded to meet urgent needs in Androscoggin 
County and surrounding communities while avoiding curtailment of other critically 
important health care services in the region.  The resolve appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal 
year 2024-25 for that purpose. The resolve provides that funds must be disbursed by July 
1, 2024.