Just recently, the new federal administration froze all government grants, jeopardizing state access to Medicaid and alarming hardworking Mainers and health care providers.

Though the move was quickly rescinded, confusion about federal funding for essential programs persists. This whiplash is enough to sow harmful mistrust in government among community members, who rely on sustainable, long-term funding to support their health and well-being.

Medicaid is a lifeline for Maine families, particularly in our rural areas. It provides health care for over 400,000 Mainers, including nearly half of all children in the state. It also covers more than 40% of all births in Maine, ensuring mothers and babies receive critical prenatal and postpartum care.

But despite its importance, this state-federal partnership is under threat as some in Congress push to cut funding or turn Medicaid into block grants, which are less regulated and may fail to meet Maine’s needs. These measures are framed as budget efficiency, but their true impact would be devastating to the health and well-being of children and their families.

For Maine, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In recent years, we’ve seen an alarming trend of rural birthing centers and OB/GYN offices closing their doors, leaving many expectant mothers to travel hours for care. This is not just an inconvenience — it can be a matter of life and death. Timely access to prenatal and postpartum care is critical for preventing complications and ensuring healthy outcomes for both mother and baby.

As noted in a recent report from Georgetown University, cuts to Medicaid funding would exacerbate these challenges, making it even harder for rural communities to retain the health care providers families in those communities desperately need.

Medicaid doesn’t just support maternal health — it’s also the backbone of our efforts to expand mental health services for Maine’s youth. From school-based counseling to telehealth initiatives, Medicaid funding has allowed us to address the growing mental health crisis among children and teenagers. These investments are already showing promise, but they require stable funding to young Mainers can get the support they need, when they need it.

If Congress moves forward with proposed Medicaid cuts, the consequences would be far-reaching. Maine would face the unenviable choice of reducing benefits for children, people with disabilities and low-income families, or shifting the financial burden onto already-strained local hospitals and clinics.

For rural areas, which rely heavily on Medicaid to keep hospitals open, the results could be catastrophic. Closure of additional health facilities would leave communities with few — if any — options for care.

Of course, proponents of these cuts won’t highlight their impact on children and rural health care systems. Instead, they’ll talk about “fiscal responsibility” while ignoring the human cost. But the reality is that Medicaid cuts don’t save money. They shift costs onto states, families and hospitals. In Maine, where communities are already grappling with limited resources, that shift is simply unsustainable.

Maine’s leaders and residents have a clear message for Washington: Medicaid is essential. It’s essential for mothers, babies and children. It’s essential for addressing the mental health and substance use challenges that affect so many of our families. And it’s essential for keeping our rural health systems afloat. We must stand firm against any effort to weaken this critical program.

Now is not the time to pull back in our investments in the health and well-being of Maine families. Instead, we should be building on the progress we’ve made, ensuring that every Mainer — regardless of where they live — has access to the care they need. In Maine, we practice being good neighbors, and that means taking care of each other regardless of politics. By protecting Medicaid, we can continue working together toward a healthier, stronger Maine for generations to come.