Hospitals

The Medical Facilities Unit oversees the licensing of all hospitals in the State of Maine as well as federal certification jurisdiction as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There are four types of hospitals:

  • Acute Care Hospitals
  • Critical Access Hospitals
  • Psychiatric Hospitals
  • Rehabilitation Hospitals

The Certification Process

The functions that the Division of Licensing & Certification (DLC) perform for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the agreements in Section 1864 of the Social Security Act (the Act) are referred to collectively as the certification process.

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The State Licensure Process

The functions that DLC perform under the authority of MRS 22 §1811, §1813, §1814, §1816, and §1817 are collectively referred to as the State Licensure Process.

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Acute Care Hospitals

An Acute Care Hospital is an institution primarily engaged in providing, by or under the supervision of physicians, inpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services or rehabilitation services. An Acute Care Hospital has the option to provide organ transplant services.

Federal Regulations

State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)

Conversion of an Acute Hospital to a Critical Access Hospital (PDF)

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Critical Access Hospital

A Critical Access Hospital  is a rural hospital consisting of no more than twenty-five (25) acute/skilled nursing care beds that can be used for either acute inpatient or skilled nursing care.

Federal Regulations

State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)

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Psychiatric Hospitals

A Psychiatric Hospital is a specialized hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient services for individuals with mental illness.

Federal Regulations

State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)

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Rehabilitation Hospitals

Rehabilitation Hospitals  provide essential therapy and coordinated care that assists patients in recovering from serious disabling illness or injury. These hospital-based services may be provided in the inpatient setting or as outpatient services.

Federal Regulations

 State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)

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How to Become Federally Certified

To become federally certified, you must do the following:

  1. submit an enrollment application
  2. DLC will provide additional, CMS-required, forms. Complete these and return to DLC

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How to Apply for Licensure

To apply to for an initial licensure, you must do the following:

  • visit the Healthcare Oversight page of our DLC website and review the instructions under the Certificate of Need program
  • Email "DLRS.MedFacilities@maine.gov" to request the electronic hospital application
  • complete the application and submit electronically
  • Print the application, sign, and submit with the appropriate fees and documentation as indicated in the rules

To apply for a renewal of a license, you must do the following:

  • Complete and submit the application that DLC will send to you electronically at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the hospital license
  • Print the application, sign, and submit with the appropriate fees and documentation as indicated in the rules

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Changes to a Hospital After Initial Licensure/Certification

The provider must report the following changes to DLC:

  • Change of ownership
  • Change of administrator/CEO
  • Relocation
  • Change of outpatient services/locations
  • Change of mailing address
  • Change of phone/fax number or email address
  • Deeming status

These changes require a change in licensure and must be reported to DLC with the applicable fee as outlined in MRS 22 §1723.

If the provider is federally certified, the applicable CMS-required form must be completed, as required by CMS, and submitted to the fiscal intermediary.

For the addition of services, please follow the guidelines outline in the Certificate of Need section of the Healthcare Oversight page.

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Construction/Renovations

In the event of construction or renovations to a hospital, the provider must do the following:

  • Visit the Healthcare Oversight page of our DLC website and review the instructions under the Certificate of Need program
  • Submit architectural plans electronically to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and to DLC
  • An architect’s certification must be submitted to DLC as indicated in the state rules
  • For more information, see a Letter of Guidance - Hospital Construction Design Standards (PDF)

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Free Hospital Care Guidelines (FHCG)

This rule establishes guidelines for the free care policies of hospitals for services including minimum income guidelines to be used in determining whether individuals are unable to pay for hospital services. It sets forth procedures for notifying patients of the availability of free care, determining who is qualified for such care, and annually reporting the quantity of free care provided.

All related disclosable schedules for each hospital licensed in the state and filed with the department as required by chapter 150 of Free Care Guidelines are included in the table below.

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Hospital Financial Information

Public Law 2009, Chapter 350, was enacted and became effective in September 2009. This law requires the department to post the Federal Internal Revenue Service Form 990

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Hospital Town Free Care Disclosure 990 Form (FY)
Northern Light Acadia Healthcare Brewer   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Acadia Hospital Bangor   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light AR Gould Hospital Presque Isle   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Blue Hill   2023 (pdf)
Bridgton Hospital Bridgton   2013 (pdf)
Calais Community Hospital Calais   2022 (pdf)
Cary Medical Center Caribou    
Central Maine Medical Center Lewiston   2013 (pdf)
Northern Light Charles A. Dean Mem Hospital Greenville   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood Waterville   2023 (pdf)
Down East Community Hospital Machias   2022 (pdf)
Northern Light Eastern Maine Healthcare Brewer   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Bangor   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Eastern Maine Med Ctr Aux Brewer   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Heath Foundation Brewer   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice S. Portland   2023 (pdf)
Houlton Regional Hospital Houlton   2021 (pdf)
Northern Light Inland Hospital Waterville   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Maine Coast Medical Realty Ellsworth   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Ellsworth   2023 (pdf)
MaineHealth Portland   2022 (pdf)
     Franklin Memorial Hospital Farmington   *
     Lincoln Health Damariscotta   *
     Maine Medical Center Portland   *
     Mid Coast Hospital Brunswick   *
     Penobscot Bay Medical Center Rockport   *
     Southern Maine Health Care Biddeford   *
     Spring Harbor Hospital Westbrook   *
     Stephens Memorial Hospital Norway   *
     Waldo County General Hospital Belfast   *
Northern Light Maine Medical Transport Brewer   2023 (pdf)
MaineGeneral Health & Medical Center Augusta/Waterville   2021 (pdf)
Northern Light Mayo Regional Hospital Dover-Foxcroft   2023 (pdf)
Northern Light Mercy Hospital Portland   2023 (pdf)
Millinocket Regional Hospital Millinocket   2012 (pdf)
Mount Desert Island Hospital Bar Harbor   2013 (pdf)
Northern Maine Medical Center Fort Kent   2021 (pdf)
Penobscot Valley Hospital Lincoln   2013 (pdf)
Redington-Fairview General Hospital Skowhegan   2021 (pdf)
Northern Light Rosscare Brewer   2023 (pdf)
Rumford Hospital Rumford   2013 (pdf)
Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital Pittsfield   2023 (pdf)
St. Joseph Hospital Bangor   2014 (pdf)
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center Lewiston   2014 (pdf)
Sunrise Healthcare Machias   2022 (pdf)
York Hospital York   2013 (pdf)

This hospital falls under MaineHealth’s 990

Note: Previous years may be available on the IRS website.  Or contact Jennifer Tankersley with requests at Jennifer Tankersley@maine.gov.