We want to address some confusion that’s emerged in recent community conversations about Maine Family Planning’s services. We’re not closing. We’re not abandoning care. We’re here for Mainers, always.
What’s Actually Changing and Why
Effective October 31st, 2025, Maine Family Planning will discontinue primary care services at three of our locations: Houlton, Ellsworth, and Presque Isle. This affects approximately 800 primary care patients.
Why is this happening?
A new federal law bans certain health providers from billing Medicaid. This law specifically targets health care organizations that provide comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion care. The federal government’s decision to withhold Medicaid funding from providers like MFP has made it financially impossible to continue operating our primary care services.
We didn’t choose this. This closure is the direct result of federal legislation targeting health care providers who offer comprehensive sexual and reproductive services. In July, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit on our behalf, Maine Family Planning v. HHS, arguing that defunding MFP violates the federal Constitution’s Equal Protection guarantee. We continue to fight this in court.
What’s Staying the Same
Our clinics remain open. All of our core sexual and reproductive health services continue uninterrupted at all locations:
- Birth control – All methods, from pills to IUDs to implants
- Cancer screenings – Breast exams, cervical cancer screening, and HPV testing
- STI testing and treatment
- Pregnancy testing and options counseling
- Annual well-woman exams
- Gender-affirming hormone therapy
- HIV prevention services including PrEP
- Reproductive health education
These services remain available to all Mainers, including teenagers, young adults, and anyone who needs affordable, confidential reproductive healthcare. We are still accepting new family planning patients.
Our Continued Commitment
For decades, Maine Family Planning has been a trusted healthcare provider for teens and young women who may not have access to care anywhere else. That hasn’t changed. We continue to offer affordable, sliding-scale services to ensure cost is never a barrier to getting the healthcare you need.
If you’ve relied on Maine Family Planning for birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing, or any reproductive health service, you can continue to rely on us. Our doors are open. Our providers are here. And our mission remains unchanged.
Supporting Our Primary Care Patients Through This Transition
For the 800 patients affected by our primary care closure, we are:
- Providing direct communication about the closure
- Offering information about alternative primary care providers in your area
- Assisting with transferring medical records to new health care providers
- Providing support for scheduling visits with new primary care practices
- Continuing to address emergent patient needs through October 31st
Our staff is available throughout this 30-day transition period to answer questions and ensure continuity of care.
Questions About Your Care?
If you’re unsure about whether we still provide a service you need, please reach out.
We’re here to answer your questions and ensure you get the care you need.Maine Family Planning has served this community for over 50 years. Despite this federal attack on our ability to provide primary care, we’re not going anywhere. We continue to advocate for health care access and will explore all options to restore these essential services to our community.
