An Act to Require Prior Notification of Closures of Labor and
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2189
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Amends: 22 MRSA §332-A

Legislative Document
No. 2189
H.P. 1470
House of Representatives, February 3, 2026
An Act to Require Prior Notification of Closures of Labor and 
Delivery Units and Changes in Maternity or Newborn Care Services 
by Hospitals as Recommended by the 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
Reported by Representative MATHIESON of Kittery for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services pursuant to Resolve 2025, chapter 106, 
section 8.
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §332-A is enacted to read:
§332-A.  Notice of termination of or change in maternity or newborn care services
1.  Termination of maternity or newborn care services.  A hospital shall file with 
the department at least 120 days prior to the effective date of the termination of maternity 
or newborn care services a notice setting forth the following information: 
A.  The effective date of the proposed termination and the reason for the termination; 
B.  The name, title, e-mail address and phone number for a contact person at the 
hospital; 
C.  The hospital's plan for emergency care, including the development and review of 
policy and procedure for maternity emergencies and training for emergency department 
and family practice staff on emergency obstetric care; 
D.  A list and descriptions of notifications sent to surrounding hospitals within 50 miles 
and Level II, Level III and Level IV newborn nursery units, to any local emergency 
management, fire and law enforcement services and to any registered patients that are 
affected by the termination; and 
E.  A description of how the hospital provided public notification of the termination. 
2.  Change in level of care of maternity or newborn care services.  A hospital shall 
file with the department at least 120 days prior to the effective date of a change in the level 
of care of maternity or newborn care services a notice setting forth the following 
information: 
A.  The effective date of the proposed change in the level of care and the reason for the 
change; 
B.  The name, title, e-mail address and phone number for a contact person at the 
hospital; 
C. A list and descriptions of notifications sent to surrounding hospitals within 50 miles 
and Level II, Level III and Level IV newborn nursery units, to any local emergency 
management, fire and law enforcement services and to any registered patients that are 
affected by the change; and 
D.  A description of how the hospital provided public notification of the change. 
SUMMARY
This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, 
Insurance and Financial Services pursuant to Resolve 2025, chapter 106 to implement a 
recommendation from the 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.  The joint standing committee has not taken a position on the substance of this 
bill.  By reporting this bill out, the joint standing committee is not suggesting and does not 
intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees with any aspect of this bill; instead, the joint 
standing committee is reporting the bill out for the sole purpose of having a bill printed that 
can be referred to a joint standing committee for an appropriate public hearing and 
subsequent processing in the normal course.  The joint standing committee is taking this 
action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the proposals contained 
in the bill.
This bill requires a hospital to 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.