New United States of Care Poll Shows Mainers Strongly Support Government Oversight of Health Transactions

Nearly 95% of voters believe it’s important for the state government to review health care mergers to ensure they don’t harm local communities.

Washington, D.C.  — Today, United States of Care released results from a survey of more than 500 registered voters in Maine. The survey, conducted in partnership with Digital Research, Inc., found that eighty percent of Maine voters strongly support increased transparency around hospital ownership, and widely believe that the state government has a role in ensuring access to health care. The results come as LD 1972 is being considered in the Maine legislature, a bill that will increase the state’s ability to conduct oversight of health care mergers and acquisitions and increase transparency in Maine’s health care system. 

In recent years there have been multiple examples of hospital systems across the country being purchased by for-profit entities that extract hospital assets, often resulting in financial hardship and closure and ultimately limiting access to care and raising costs for patients. With LD 1972, Maine has an opportunity to act proactively to protect the integrity of the state’s health system by creating a process for review and approval of transactions that could impact the affordability, quality, or accessibility of care.  

“It’s clear that Mainers are more ready than ever for a transparent health care system,” said Caitlin Westerson, Senior Director of State Policy & Advocacy at United States of Care. “Their appetite for government intervention signals a gap that state legislators have an opportunity — and responsibility — to fill.” 

The survey found that at least eight out of ten surveyed voters agree it is the state government’s responsibility to ensure that all Mainers have access to affordable health care, even if that means regulating health care companies. Another eight out of ten voters support policies that would require health care facilities to disclose their ownership to the public or notify the state when major changes to their ownership occur. 

Additionally, almost all voters — 95% — believe it’s important for the state government to review health care mergers and acquisitions in order to ensure that changes in ownership do not reduce access and quality of care. Another three out of four voters support allowing the state to intervene in health care mergers and acquisitions if they are expected to harm consumers through reduced competition or increased costs. 

“We’ve seen health care systems in other states forced to close critical facilities after being bought up by corporate entities,” said Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care. “Mainers agree that they don’t want that to happen here and clearly support measures that would increase transparency and the ability to regulate health care transactions that threaten their access to care.” 

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