Feds giving more than $2M to boost northern Maine health

WASHBURN, Maine – Three members of Maine’s congressional delegation say a community health network in northern Maine will receive more than $2.2 million from the federal government to expand services.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins, independent Sen. Angus King and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden say the money will go to Pines Health Services, which has five locations in Aroostook County.

The lawmakers say the grant is designed to support efforts to grow services and lower health care costs in rural northern Maine. The money is from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Center Cluster Program. Lawmakers say the federal government uses the program to improve access to health care for people who are economically or medically vulnerable or geographically isolated.

Pines Health’s locations are in Caribou, Presque Isle, Van Buren, Washburn and Fort Fairfield.