The Medical Facilities Unit oversees the licensing of all hospitals in the State of Maine as well as federal certification jurisdiction as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There are four types of hospitals:
- Acute Care Hospitals
- Critical Access Hospitals
- Psychiatric Hospitals
- Rehabilitation Hospitals
The Certification Process
The functions that the Division of Licensing & Certification (DLC) perform for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under the agreements in Section 1864 of the Social Security Act (the Act) are referred to collectively as the certification process.
The State Licensure Process
The functions that DLC perform under the authority of MRS 22 §1811, §1813, §1814, §1816, and §1817 are collectively referred to as the State Licensure Process.
Acute Care Hospitals
An Acute Care Hospital is an institution primarily engaged in providing, by or under the supervision of physicians, inpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services or rehabilitation services. An Acute Care Hospital has the option to provide organ transplant services.
Federal Regulations
- 42 CFR Part 482, Conditions of Participation for Hospitals
- 42 CFR, §482.15, Conditions of Participation for Hospitals (Emergency Preparedness)
- 42 CFR, Part 482, Subpart E - General Requirements for Transplant Center
- Life Safety Code
State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)
Conversion of an Acute Hospital to a Critical Access Hospital (PDF)
Critical Access Hospital
A Critical Access Hospital is a rural hospital consisting of no more than twenty-five (25) acute/skilled nursing care beds that can be used for either acute inpatient or skilled nursing care.
Federal Regulations
- 42 CFR Part 485, Subpart F, Conditions of Participation: Critical Access Hospitals
- 42 CFR, §485.625, Conditions of Participation for Critical Access Hospitals (Emergency Preparedness)
- Life Safety Code
State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)
Psychiatric Hospitals
A Psychiatric Hospital is a specialized hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient services for individuals with mental illness.
Federal Regulations
- 42 CFR Part 482, Conditions of Participation for Hospitals
- 42 CFR, §482.15, Condition of Participation for Hospitals (Emergency Preparedness)
- Life Safety Code
State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)
Rehabilitation Hospitals
Rehabilitation Hospitals provide essential therapy and coordinated care that assists patients in recovering from serious disabling illness or injury. These hospital-based services may be provided in the inpatient setting or as outpatient services.
Federal Regulations
- 42 CFR Part 482, Conditions of Participation for Hospitals
- 42 CFR, §482.15, Condition of Participation for Hospitals (Emergency Preparedness)
- Life Safety Code
State Regulations - 10-144 CMR Ch 112, Rules for the Licensing of Hospitals (Word)
How to Become Federally Certified
To become federally certified, you must do the following:
- submit an enrollment application
- DLC will provide additional, CMS-required, forms. Complete these and return to DLC
How to Apply for Licensure
To apply to for an initial licensure, you must do the following:
- visit the Healthcare Oversight page of our DLC website and review the instructions under the Certificate of Need program
- Email "DLRS.MedFacilities@maine.gov" to request the electronic hospital application
- complete the application and submit electronically
- Print the application, sign, and submit with the appropriate fees and documentation as indicated in the rules
To apply for a renewal of a license, you must do the following:
- Complete and submit the application that DLC will send to you electronically at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the hospital license
- Print the application, sign, and submit with the appropriate fees and documentation as indicated in the rules
Changes to a Hospital After Initial Licensure/Certification
The provider must report the following changes to DLC:
- Change of ownership
- Change of administrator/CEO
- Relocation
- Change of outpatient services/locations
- Change of mailing address
- Change of phone/fax number or email address
- Deeming status
These changes require a change in licensure and must be reported to DLC with the applicable fee as outlined in MRS 22 §1723.
If the provider is federally certified, the applicable CMS-required form must be completed, as required by CMS, and submitted to the fiscal intermediary.
For the addition of services, please follow the guidelines outline in the Certificate of Need section of the Healthcare Oversight page.
Construction/Renovations
In the event of construction or renovations to a hospital, the provider must do the following:
- Visit the Healthcare Oversight page of our DLC website and review the instructions under the Certificate of Need program
- Submit architectural plans electronically to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and to DLC
- An architect’s certification must be submitted to DLC as indicated in the state rules
- For more information, see a Letter of Guidance - Hospital Construction Design Standards (PDF)
Free Hospital Care Guidelines (FHCG)
This rule establishes guidelines for the free care policies of hospitals for services including minimum income guidelines to be used in determining whether individuals are unable to pay for hospital services. It sets forth procedures for notifying patients of the availability of free care, determining who is qualified for such care, and annually reporting the quantity of free care provided.
- 10-144 CMR Ch 150 (Word) - Free Care Guidelines
- 22 MRS § 1716 - Charity Care Guidelines
All related disclosable schedules for each hospital licensed in the state and filed with the department as required by chapter 150 of Free Care Guidelines are included in the table below.
Hospital Financial Information
Public Law 2009, Chapter 350, was enacted and became effective in September 2009. This law requires the department to post the Federal Internal Revenue Service Form 990
| Hospital | Town | Free Care Disclosure | 990 Form (FY) |
| Northern Light Acadia Healthcare | Brewer | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Acadia Hospital | Bangor | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light AR Gould Hospital | Presque Isle | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Blue Hill Memorial Hospital | Blue Hill | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Bridgton Hospital | Bridgton | 2013 (pdf) | |
| Calais Community Hospital | Calais | 2022 (pdf) | |
| Cary Medical Center | Caribou | ||
| Central Maine Medical Center | Lewiston | 2013 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Charles A. Dean Mem Hospital | Greenville | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood | Waterville | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Down East Community Hospital | Machias | 2022 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Eastern Maine Healthcare | Brewer | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center | Bangor | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Eastern Maine Med Ctr Aux | Brewer | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Heath Foundation | Brewer | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Home Care & Hospice | S. Portland | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Houlton Regional Hospital | Houlton | 2021 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Inland Hospital | Waterville | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Maine Coast Medical Realty | Ellsworth | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Maine Coast Memorial Hospital | Ellsworth | 2023 (pdf) | |
| MaineHealth | Portland | 2022 (pdf) | |
| Franklin Memorial Hospital | Farmington | * | |
| Lincoln Health | Damariscotta | * | |
| Maine Medical Center | Portland | * | |
| Mid Coast Hospital | Brunswick | * | |
| Penobscot Bay Medical Center | Rockport | * | |
| Southern Maine Health Care | Biddeford | * | |
| Spring Harbor Hospital | Westbrook | * | |
| Stephens Memorial Hospital | Norway | * | |
| Waldo County General Hospital | Belfast | * | |
| Northern Light Maine Medical Transport | Brewer | 2023 (pdf) | |
| MaineGeneral Health & Medical Center | Augusta/Waterville | 2021 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Mayo Regional Hospital | Dover-Foxcroft | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Mercy Hospital | Portland | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Millinocket Regional Hospital | Millinocket | 2012 (pdf) | |
| Mount Desert Island Hospital | Bar Harbor | 2013 (pdf) | |
| Northern Maine Medical Center | Fort Kent | 2021 (pdf) | |
| Penobscot Valley Hospital | Lincoln | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Redington-Fairview General Hospital | Skowhegan | 2021 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Rosscare | Brewer | 2023 (pdf) | |
| Rumford Hospital | Rumford | 2013 (pdf) | |
| Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital | Pittsfield | 2023 (pdf) | |
| St. Joseph Hospital | Bangor | 2014 (pdf) | |
| St. Mary's Regional Medical Center | Lewiston | 2014 (pdf) | |
| Sunrise Healthcare | Machias | 2022 (pdf) | |
| York Hospital | York | 2013 (pdf) |
* This hospital falls under MaineHealth’s 990
Note: Previous years may be available on the IRS website. Or contact Jennifer Tankersley with requests at Jennifer Tankersley@maine.gov.