Conversation with MDI Hospital’s Chrissi Maguire

MDI Hospital President and CEO Chrissi Maguire joined WDEA's Chris Popper on Friday March 7th. Chrissi talked about why she was wearing blue today and the celebration of MDI Hospital's Hospitalists today.

She also spoke about the urgent need for the Maine House and Senate to pass the supplemental budget and the effect that a delay would have for the health care facilities and nursing homes throughout the State. Chrissi has a unique perspective on this, not only from her role at MDI Hospital, but she is also the President of the Maine Hospital Assosciation.

If the supplemental budget is passed as "Emergency Legislation" with two-thirds passage, it would go into effect immediately. However, if it is passed by a simple majority, then the supplemental budget won't go into effect until 90 days after the adjournment of the session. The difference in the timely reimbursement to the health care facilities and nursing homes throughout the State would be huge, as the State is already saying that without "Emergency Passage" they will have to scale-back the reimbursements as soon as next week.

Check out the video.

Below is the Op-Ed that Chrissi submitted to local newspapers for publication

At Mount Desert Island Hospital, our commitment to patient care remains unwavering. No matter what happens with the state’s supplemental budget, we will continue to see patients with uninterrupted access to high-quality, patient-centered care. We are not alone. Maine hospitals are committed to caring for their communities; however, the proposed lapse and reductions in MaineCare payments will impact every hospital, rural health clinic, and health care provider in our State.

What is the immediate and long-term Impact? The State of Maine’s budget shortfall means hospitals—including MDI Hospital—are not reimbursed for care already delivered. While we manage the short-term financial strain, prolonged delays will force tough decisions that could impact our ability to maintain critical services in the future. If a unified solution is not reached soon, it could have long-term consequences on our services and potential access issues throughout the State. The Maine Hospital Association is actively working to help find solutions and representing the importance of funding healthcare services in Maine while solutions are formulated for the long-term stability of the MaineCare program.

This matters because MaineCare funding keeps hospitals like ours operational, ensuring we can provide emergency care, primary care, dental services, behavioral health, and other vital specialized services to this community and beyond. Without these payments, rural hospitals face financial uncertainty, risking patient care and hospital stability. The current deficit in the supplemental budget is $118M related to MaineCare (Medicaid) payments, with most of these funds owed to Hospitals across the State.

There is a need for action, and we urge state leaders to pass the supplemental budget and fulfill these obligations. Delaying payment jeopardizes hospitals and the communities that depend on them. We encourage community members to contact their legislators and advocate for immediate action.

MDI Hospital is here for you—we always have been. Now, we need Maine to be here for its hospitals.

Contact information for Senators is here.

Contact information for Representatives is here .

Christina Maguire
President & CEO
Mount Desert Island Hospital