• MaineGeneral Health is ending pediatric psychological services at the Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center on May 16 due to financial challenges, including low reimbursements and insurance denials.
• The cuts will affect services such as the Pediatric Rapid Evaluation Program (PREP) and psychological evaluations, raising concerns about access to care for children with mental health and developmental disabilities.
• Advocates and state officials are responding to the cuts, exploring options to support affected families and address the broader issue of funding for children's healthcare services.

MaineGeneral Health has announced it will discontinue pediatric psychological services at the Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center in Augusta, Maine, effective May 16. This decision, driven by financial pressures facing the healthcare system, including low reimbursements, excessive insurance denials, and increased operational costs, will impact children with mental health needs and developmental disabilities. The closure includes the Pediatric Rapid Evaluation Program (PREP), which serves children recently placed in foster care, and other psychological services. The move has sparked concern among advocates who fear it will create barriers to accessing necessary care, particularly for vulnerable children reliant on MaineCare. While MaineGeneral claims to continue offering 95% of current services through other lines, the loss of specialized programs raises significant questions about the future of pediatric mental healthcare in central Maine.

• What: MaineGeneral Health is cutting pediatric psychological services, including the PREP program, at the Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center.
• Who: MaineGeneral Health, Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center, children with mental health and developmental disabilities, their families, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, CEO Nathan Howell, Nancy Cronin.
• When: The cuts are effective May 16, 2025. The announcement was made in early May 2025.
• Where: Augusta, Maine (central Maine); Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center.

The decision by MaineGeneral Health to cut pediatric psychological services highlights the growing financial strain on hospitals in Maine and across the country. The cuts, particularly the closure of PREP, will likely have a significant impact on vulnerable children, especially those in foster care or with developmental disabilities. Advocates worry that reduced access to diagnostic services will create barriers to treatment, particularly for families relying on MaineCare. The situation underscores the need for sustainable funding models and innovative solutions to ensure that children receive the mental health and developmental services they need.

We cannot continue with 'business as usual.' There are no easy, painless cuts left to make or easy revenue streams to tap into.

We're seeing everything slowly peter away. We're losing in-home services. ... Now we're seeing them slowly slip from our grasp. And this is our most vulnerable population.

We’ve lost a huge piece of the puzzle. It’s like a bridge has been blown up.

Federal law says MaineCare kids have to be evaluated. That's what Medicaid says, so what are they going to do now if they're not being evaluated? Ultimately, it is the most vulnerable kids we're talking about

MaineGeneral Health's decision to cut pediatric psychological services reflects a concerning trend of financial challenges impacting healthcare providers and limiting access to vital services for children with mental health and developmental disabilities. While the hospital claims it will continue to provide most of its current services, the loss of specialized programs raises significant concerns about the future of pediatric mental healthcare in central Maine. The situation calls for collaborative solutions involving healthcare providers, state agencies, and advocates to ensure sustainable funding and equitable access to care for vulnerable children.