In Maine, state health officials hoped to steer a slice of $190 million in new federal rural health funding to shield hospitals and clinics from the fallout caused by cuts to federal health programs.
Their plan would have helped pay to treat low-income, uninsured patients.
But federal leaders overseeing the five-year, $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program said no.
“It was not our decision,” said Lisa Letourneau, a senior adviser at Maine’s health department.
Letourneau told an audience of healthcare providers, advocates, and community groups during a March webinar that the change was “disappointing.”
