Northern Light Health

Where did the summer go? It's that time again to spotlight some of our amazing teams! Our teams work hard every day, and we love showing them a little extra love as we round out the month and share some of the fun things that made it to social from across the Northern Light Health system. Help us show them a little extra appreciation by saying thank you or leaving a heart emoji in the comments! ❤️

What's in your water bottle? Do you know what's lurking in your water bottle in between washes? This week's Healthful Hints takes a peek inside what might be growing in your favorite drinking vessel. We did our own unofficial science experiment on our own water bottles, and the results were interesting. Take a look at the video, make sure you wash your water bottles consistently, and make sure your kids are bringing their bottles home to be washed out daily.

UPDATE Regarding Anthem: Northern Light Health is seeking mediation with Anthem. For the full story, visit our website. https://ow.ly/Etc350WMmBj

After months of trying to work something out, the last offer we received from Anthem in mid-July was nothing short of offensive. They not only want us to raise rates for Anthem patients, but for all of our patients. This isn’t just unfair, it’s unacceptable. On July 30th, we shared a counterproposal, requesting a modest 8% increase for next year. Anthem made it clear that they would not be providing a counter proposal, which Northern Light Health interpreted to signal the end of any further opportunity to negotiate. We won’t stand by and let this affect our patients. We refuse to accept a blanket price hike that would hurt everyone. We’ve always been committed to providing quality care without burdening our patients, and we’re not backing down from that commitment. We will continue to fight for you and keep you updated as we move forward. Thank you for standing with us. We won’t stop pushing for what's right. For any other questions, please email AnthemQuestions@NorthernLight.org or call Northern Light Health’s dedicated community information line at 1-888-616-0039, available Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. https://ow.ly/opiY50WKcOK

Recent cuts to SNAP, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are leaving families concerned about how they'll be able to put food on the table. Watch how Northern Light Health is helping families. https://ow.ly/QvoH50WJCxF

Today's Healthful Hints looks at back to school lunches for your kids! School is just around the corner, and many are thinking about school lunches. Rebecca Maclean, one of our registered dieticians, shares some great tips for healthy lunches and what to do if you have picky eaters. https://ow.ly/urCw50WGK5u

An Update on our Negotiations with Anthem: For several months, Northern Light Health has made every effort to work collaboratively with Anthem to reach a new agreement, prioritizing continued in-network access for our patients. Despite our repeated attempts to engage in timely and productive discussions, we have encountered delayed responses to our proposals and experienced canceled meetings initiated by the Anthem team. Instead, they have chosen to share misleading information that has created confusion and stalled any chance of finalizing an agreement. Further, Anthem’s business practices, including delayed payments for services Northern Light Health provided to Anthem members, have made it increasingly difficult to continue providing care, especially for our most vulnerable communities. As a result, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to end our relationship with Anthem. Northern Light Health physicians and some ancillary services will be out of network with all commercial Anthem plans starting October 1, and all hospital-based services will be out of network starting on December 31. In addition, our entire health system, including hospitals, clinics, and physicians, will be out of network with all Anthem Medicare Advantage plans starting January 1, 2026. We remain committed to transparency and patient care. You can read the full letter we’ve sent to Anthem’s leadership today: https://ow.ly/an1A50WGPKE

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a vaccine and an immunization? August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of routine vaccinations for people of all ages. Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to the pathogen, and immunization is the result. Today’s Healthful Hints highlights the importance of routine vaccinations. Dr. Kelly Sawyer, Infectious Diseases Pharmacist for Northern Light Health. She recently spoke with Maine's Total Coverage about vaccines. Check out the story here: https://ow.ly/psXi50WFoYg

Northern Light Health president and CEO Timothy Dentry recently announced upcoming leadership transitions at Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, Northern Light CA Dean Hospital in Greenville, Northern Light Mayo Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft, and the Northern Light Health Foundation. Charlie Therrien, senior vice president of Northern Light Health, president of Northern Light Mercy Hospital, and president of the Northern Light Health Foundation, will step down from his position this fall as previously planned. Therrien will be succeeded at Mercy by Marie Vienneau, BSN, FACHE, who currently serves as senior vice president and regional president, Northern Light Health, and president, Northern Light CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals. Randy Clark, MBA, senior vice president, Northern Light Health, and president, Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital and Northern Light Continuing Care, Lakewood, will add CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals to his areas of oversight. Cynthia Faulkner, vice president of philanthropy services, Northern Light Health Foundation, will become president of the Foundation. We are excited to see what these changes mean for Northern Light Health and we thank Charlie for his service and wish him well.

How do we make our hospitals and offices more accessible for people with disabilities? In this episode, Tim tackles that topic as he continues his conversation with Cara Pelletier, vice president with Disability:IN, a non-profit that specializes in helping companies enhance disability inclusion, and Jessica Shaffer, Director of Community Health and Equity, Northern Light Health. https://ow.ly/Houv50WETlU