MaineCare reimbursement rate increases went into effect this month, but there will be a lag before facilities see the impact.
Health
Rose Lundy: Rise in contract staff key sign that nursing homes are struggling
One month after a Maine Monitor investigation highlighted the problem, five facilities shut their doors.
Bicycling alone, no more: Maine moves toward active transportation
Walking trails, bicycle paths and other improvements are under consideration. Rural residents need the projects most.
Tiny Coopers Mills reeling in the aftermath of nursing home closure
Four of the five nursing homes that closed in Maine this fall had big increases in contracted staff hours leading up to the pandemic.
COVID rapid tests can be scarce, yet holidays approach
Wearing ‘layers’ against the virus is highly recommended — led by being vaccinated. But the U.S lags in testing, and that’s one of the safeguards.
Maine’s pollen problem is nothing to sneeze at
As pollen seasons lengthen with climate change, the state with a high asthma rate plans to use a federal grant to collect data and establish allergy warnings.
As COVID-19 grinds on, stress piles up for public health workers
Unlike other natural disasters, the nearly 2-year-old pandemic has no predictable timeline. ‘The exhaustion is palpable.’
Opioids: A continuing epidemic, within a pandemic
As COVID-19 captures the public’s attention, Maine’s battle with opioid addiction rages on.
Summer of 2022: Will browntail moths be this bad again?
The likely answer is yes, experts say. Maine is still in an outbreak, but a cool, wet spring could knock down the irritating insects.
Nursing homes face ongoing staff shortages – a problem that predates the pandemic
The use of contract nurses and assistants in Maine has soared since 2017 as administrators scramble for solutions.
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