Northern Maine General to close outpatient and case management programs

Staffing shortages and declining reimbursements force closure, affecting 154 clients and 12 staff

Jan. 31, 2026 at 1:55pm

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Northern Maine General, a social services agency in Aroostook County, Maine, is shutting down its outpatient and community-based behavioral health and case management programs by the end of March 2026. The closure will impact 154 clients and 12 professional staff. Staffing shortages and dwindling MaineCare reimbursements that did not keep pace with rising costs are cited as the reasons behind the decision.

Why it matters

The closure of these programs at Northern Maine General is part of a broader trend of health-related program closures across Aroostook County and the state of Maine, driven by staffing shortages, declining reimbursements, and regulatory pressures. This highlights the challenges faced by rural healthcare providers in maintaining critical services for vulnerable populations.

The details

Northern Maine General's outpatient and case management programs, which provided clinical therapy, behavioral health home coordination, case management, and targeted case management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will be shuttered by the end of March 2026. CEO Michelle Raymond cited staffing shortages and dwindling MaineCare reimbursements that did not keep pace with rising costs as the core reasons behind the decision. The organization has been trying to cut costs and stretch employee responsibilities, but these efforts have not been enough to save the programs.

  • Northern Maine General's outpatient and case management programs will close by the end of March 2026.
  • The organization closed its Mercy Home nursing home and long-term care facility in Eagle Lake in May 2025.

The players

Northern Maine General

A social services agency in Aroostook County, Maine, that is shutting down its outpatient and community-based behavioral health and case management programs.

Michelle Raymond

The CEO of Northern Maine General who cited staffing shortages and declining reimbursements as the reasons behind the program closures.

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What they’re saying

“This is very heartwrenching,”

— Michelle Raymond, CEO

“You have to be very competitive in your wages at this stage of the game and people who are dependent on MaineCare service reimbursement rates struggle. There has to be a different stream of revenue in order to provide those services.”

— Michelle Raymond, CEO

What’s next

Northern Maine General has reached out to other providers in the area to see if they have the capacity to accept referrals for the 154 clients affected by the program closures. Some clients will be discharged and referred to other providers, while others will be transferred to another provider.

The takeaway

The closure of Northern Maine General's outpatient and case management programs is a symptom of the broader challenges facing rural healthcare providers in Maine, including staffing shortages, declining reimbursements, and regulatory pressures. This highlights the need for policymakers and healthcare leaders to find sustainable solutions to ensure vulnerable populations in rural areas continue to have access to critical services.