Free and low-cost health care centers in Maine
Finding affordable, or even free, health care using Maine’s healthcare system often requires looking beyond traditional hospitals or medical providers to the state's relatively vast (on a per capita basis) network of Community Health Centers (CHCs). In a state where rural access to medical care is a challenge, organizations like HealthReach, PCHC, and Katahdin Valley or GPH in the city of Portland among others act as essential providers for those without traditional insurance or that have a limited income. These Maine health care centers listed below try to provide care to people in need.
What to expect in Maine: Unlike more urbanized states, Maine's sliding fee health care programs as well as clinics often include integrated pharmacy services and behavioral health as part of primary care. Because many of these centers are the only providers for several towns, MaineCare (Medicaid) enrollment assistance is usually available on-site to help residents determine if they qualify for state-funded insurance coverage.
What medical services may be provided? While every clinic has its own specific funding and staffing, Maine’s community health centers typically focus on addressing the whole-person care. At most locations, your visit may include several of the following services on a sliding fee scale:
- Primary Medical Care: Routine check-ups, chronic disease management (diabetes, high blood pressure), and physical exams.
- Preventive Services: Immunizations/vaccines, flu shots, and cancer screenings (such as Pap smears or colonoscopy referrals).
- Behavioral Health: On-site counseling, mental health assessments, online therapy and in some locations, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment or "Medication Assisted Treatment" (MAT).
- Laboratory and X-ray: Basic diagnostic testing is often available either on-site at a community health care center or through a local hospital partner at a reduced rate.
- Prescription Assistance: Most of the Maine FQHCs participate in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which can significantly lower the cost of medications for eligible patients.
Maine Community Clinics by Region
Many of the main federally qualified health care centers area listed below, though each has limited resources, varying application processes as well as other criteria in place. However the ail of the community clinics and other providers is to help as many patients as possible, no matter their income or insurance status. In addition to the centers below, there are other options such as the official Maine directories that may list the same or other options.
Greater Portland and Cumberland County health care centers
As the most populated region in Maine, Cumberland County and the Portland MSA has a mix of large integrated sliding fee health centers and specialized volunteer clinics - some of which may provide free care to qualified people. These facilities are often referred to as "Safety Net" providers.
Greater Portland Health (GPH): This is the largest community health center network in the region, with over 15 locations including sites in Portland, South Portland, and Westbrook Maine. They offer programs, to qualified people, including primary care, dental, and behavioral health.
- Main Site: 180 Park Ave., Portland, ME 04102. Phone: 207-874-2141
- Bayside Clinic: 63 Preble St., Portland, ME 04101.
- South Portland Clinic: 100 Brickhill Ave., South Portland, ME 04106.
Portland Community Free Clinic (PCFC): Unlike the sliding-fee centers, this clinic provides free primary care to low-income, uninsured adults (ages 18-64) living in Cumberland County who have no other source of care. Address: 103 India St., Portland, ME 04101. Phone: 207-874-8982
MaineHealth "Free Care" Charity Care Program: Maine’s largest hospital system, headquartered in Portland, is required by state law to provide free care to residents below 150% of the poverty level, but they often extend this to 200%. This applies to medically necessary services at their facilities like Maine Medical Center. Financial assistance number for the program is 1-866-804-2499
Aroostook County ("The County")
In Northern Maine, medical care including from sliding fee health care centers is often concentrated in hubs like Caribou and Houlton Maine. Centers here, including federally qualified sliding fee locations, such as Pines Health Services, frequently offer "frontier medicine" programs tailored to the agricultural and forestry workforce.
Pines Health Services - 74 Access Hwy, Caribou, ME 04736. Phone: 207-498-2359.
Katahdin Valley Health Center - 59 Bangor St., Houlton, ME 04730. Phone: 207-528-2285.
The Highlands and Penobscot Maine area (Bangor/Old Town)
This region features Penobscot Community Health Center (PCHC), one of the most comprehensive FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) in New England. They area a differentiator for having specialized pharmacy as well as geriatric clinics, which considering Maine skews towards an older population is very beneficial.
PCHC Union Street - 1048 Union St., Bangor, ME 04401. Phone: 207-945-5247.
Helen Hunt Health Center - 242 Brunswick St., Old Town, ME 04468. Phone: 207-945-5247.
Down East and Coastal Maine health care centers
Anyone living near the coast or on an island in Maine knows that the lifestyle and resources are different than other parts of the state. Providing affordable or even no-cost medical care to coastal communities and the islands requires a localized approach. Eastport Health Care and the Islands Community Medical Services focus on the addressing the needs of maritime and rural residents.
Regional Medical Center at Lubec - 43 S. Lubec Rd., Lubec, ME 04652. Phone: 207-733-1090.
Islands Community Medical Services - 15 Medical Center Loop, Vinalhaven, ME 04863. Phone: 207-863-4109.
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