MaineHealth Partnership

York Hospital and MaineHealth share an intent to maintain inpatient care for the foreseeable future and invest in primary and specialty care. MaineHealth is committed to strengthening York Hospital so that York County patients will continue to have outstanding care close to home.

The exploration of a partnership between York Hospital and MaineHealth is a multi-step process that may continue for over a year. A Letter of Intent has been signed by both parties, who are currently in the due diligence phase. This process will require approvals from the state, which includes both an application for a Certificate of Need, and a separate review by the Maine Attorney General. Day-to-day operations will be unaffected by the pending transaction.

York Hospital will continue to operate in a manner that optimizes both staff and the care they provide to the communities they serve. Both organizations are committed to expanding access to top-quality services with more coordinated care options while preserving continuity for patients, families, providers and vendors.

York Hospital has been a trusted community institution defined by its commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. But like many hospitals in Maine and across the country, rising labor costs, escalating pharmaceutical and supply expenses and increasing payer denials have forced York Hospital to review its options regarding its future. Plus, unlike many of our peers, York Hospital does not qualify for critical federal safety-net programs, including Critical Access Hospital designation or 340B drug pricing. This exclusion creates a structural disadvantage, limiting access to resources that help many hospitals offset growing financial strain. 

As efficient and agile as we are, we can no longer navigate the challenging health care landscape on our own. We are taking this step out of responsibility to our community. We have turned to MaineHealth multiple times over the past year to assist with clinical needs and support services. Now, we are looking to join the MaineHealth family to ensure that our community continues to have local access to top-quality health care close to home, for generations to come.

As these discussions continue, both organizations are committed to retaining York Hospital’s deep connection to the community. We remain committed to supporting the community and the many important service organizations that make it so special. This pending transaction will not impact charitable donations. All current and future gifts and donor contributions that are designated to York will be honored, and will support local programs, services and facilities.

Our commitment is to people—our patients and our teams. While change is a natural part of any partnership, our focus is on strengthening our ability to deliver excellent care. We are guided by our values as we approach decisions around staffing. Clinical, patient-facing roles remain essential, and we do not anticipate requiring clinical staff to reapply. On the administrative side, we will carefully review the work currently being done at both York Hospital and MaineHealth to identify where roles may align or overlap.

Where consolidation becomes necessary, we will approach the process with transparency and fairness, ensuring that decisions are based on clear criteria. Respecting our staff is a priority, and we will provide ample notice and support to those impacted. Our intent is to preserve the culture of York Hospital while bringing the best of both organizations together. Throughout this process, we are committed to working closely with each team member to explore future opportunities, both within MaineHealth and beyond, while always honoring the relationships we’ve built.

Long term, it is anticipated that York Hospital’s leadership structure will be integrated into the broader MaineHealth leadership structure.