An Interview with MaineHealth CEO Bill Caron

MaineHealth is the largest healthcare network in Maine, with 16,000 employees and nearly $2 billion in combined revenue. Maine is the oldest state in the country, which means network's like MaineHealth are particularly exposed to issues related to Medicare reimbursements.

In yesterday's Portland Press Herald, I interview the network's CEO, Bill Caron, about the issues facing MaineHealth and Maine health care generally, including the pressures that triggered this week's layoffs at Maine Medical Center, and the implications of the Affordable Care Act, which he describes as the "last shot" for the U.S. to avoid a single payer insurance model.

My reporting last touched on MaineHealth last month in connection with the coming, controversial closure of a member hospital, St. Andrews in Boothbay Harbor, and the simultaneous down-sizing of Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta.