$2 Million for MaineGeneral in Augusta Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $2,000,000 for MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta in the Fiscal Year 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill.  

The omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29.  It will now be passed by the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Mainers in every part of our state should be able to receive the vital medical services they need, which is why I have long advocated for funding to support access to quality rural health care,” said Senator Collins.  “Upgrading MaineGeneral’s surgical equipment with this cutting-edge robotic-assistance surgical system will provide Central Maine residents with access to the most advanced care, improving health outcomes.”

“Funding approved by Congress for an additional surgical robot at MaineGeneral Medical Center will enable more patients in our rural region to have access to state-of-the-art, life-saving technology close to home,” said Chuck Hays, President & CEO of MaineGeneral Health. “Our expert surgeons use the equipment to perform a range of minimally invasive surgeries, including general, urology, thoracic, vascular, obstetrics and bariatrics. Having this additional technology also will help attract and retain highly qualified medical staff to the region.”

The funding will be used by MaineGeneral to acquire a new da Vinci Xi® robotic-assisted surgical system. Investment in this upgraded robotic-assisted surgical system will: enhance MaineGeneral’s ability to perform minimally invasive surgeries with precision and accuracy, leading to better health outcomes for patients; increase access to high-quality health care for residents in Central Maine; and improve MaineGeneral’s ability to recruit and retain health care professionals in rural Maine.

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