Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to the letter “Farrin voting record: MaineCare payments.” In its conclusion, the writer inaccurately uses the vote to close labor and delivery services at Miles (Lincoln Hospital) in Damariscotta to illustrate the claim that MaineCare is failing to reimburse hospitals on time, forcing them to cut staff and services. The Lincoln Hospital Board and the MaineHealth Board of Trustees have repeatedly stated that their vote to close was not financial but was based instead on difficulty recruiting OB/GYNs and low birth volume.

Since the MaineHealth forums held in Boothbay and Damariscotta in early June, Rep. Wayne Farrin has supported the Lincoln County residents who came together to form the Miles Delivers Action Coalition to save labor and delivery. He has met with hospital leadership and supported the coalition at public events, such as the March for Miles Rally in Portland before the final vote. Farrin’s commitment to addressing the labor and delivery crisis statewide shows his willingness to address the broader healthcare issues facing Mainers. Quick fixes will not address the root causes of our healthcare problems; we need people like Farrin who are willing to work in a bipartisan manner alongside not only hospital leaders but also, crucially, clinicians with boots-on-the-ground experience and the patients they serve.

Cecilia Ackerman

Alna