A new law, nicknamed the “big, beautiful bill” by its backers in Congress, promises to fix many things in our health care system. It sounds good at first, cutting government spending, making hospitals more “efficient” and getting rid of what some call “waste.” But in Maine, this bill could do the exact opposite of what its supporters hope. It could break something precious: our rural hospitals.

Hospitals like Northern Light AR Gould in Presque Isle and Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth are not just buildings. They are lifelines. They care for babies being born, older folks having heart attacks and farmers hurt while working their land. These hospitals also create jobs and help hold small towns together. Without them, many people would have to drive hours to see a doctor, or might not get care at all.

But under the “big, beautiful bill,” hospitals like these could shut down. That’s not a guess, it’s what experts are warning. The bill would reduce how much money hospitals get for caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients. It would also cut special support payments that help small rural hospitals stay open even when they serve fewer patients.

That’s a huge problem for Maine. Our state is big, but most of our towns are small and spread out. In fact, over 60% of Mainers live in rural areas. And these areas are the most at risk. While hospitals in cities like Portland or Bangor have more patients and more money, places like Presque Isle and Ellsworth don’t. They rely on those support payments to stay open. If those are taken away, many rural hospitals could be forced to shut their doors.

Let’s talk about AR Gould in Presque Isle. It serves people from all over Aroostook County, a part of Maine that’s far from any big city. If that hospital closes, patients could be left with nowhere nearby to go. It’s not just an inconvenience. If you’re having a stroke or a heart attack, extra hours on the road could mean the difference between life and death.

The same is true for Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital, which has been a vital part of the Ellsworth area for decades. Losing that hospital wouldn’t just affect the city — it would hurt everyone from Bar Harbor to Blue Hill to Bucksport. Many of these communities lean Republican. In fact, rural areas across Maine tend to vote red. Ironically, that means the very voters who supported the lawmakers behind the “big, beautiful bill” may feel its harshest effects.

This bill doesn’t just hurt hospitals. It hurts people, especially seniors, low-income families and those with chronic conditions. When a local hospital closes, access to care goes down, travel time goes up and health outcomes get worse. It’s that simple.

Some lawmakers who voted for this bill say the private market will step in. But let’s be honest: private companies don’t want to build clinics in places where they can’t make a profit. And they won’t send doctors to remote towns unless there’s money to be made. That’s why government support matters. It’s not about waste, it’s about fairness, and saving lives.

It’s also about the future of our state. Young families don’t want to move to towns without hospitals. Businesses don’t want to invest in places without basic services. And retirees can’t stay in communities where there’s no care nearby. If hospitals close, we could see more people leave rural Maine, making the economy worse and weakening the towns we love.

Some say this won’t happen right away. That’s true. It will take time. But it’s already here.

Inland Hospital in Waterville and the Waterville birthing unit have already closed. Slowly, painfully, we’ll see more and more services disappear. A maternity ward might close here. An emergency room might reduce hours there. At some point, the hospital can’t function, and then it’s gone. Just like that.

When that happens, it won’t just hurt Democrats or Republicans. It will hurt Mainers. But it is important to point out that because most rural hospitals are in Republican-leaning areas, more Republicans will lose health care access than others. That is not political spin, it’s a fact. People who voted for this bill thinking it would help them will soon see how it does the opposite.

Yet, there is hope. Mainers are tough. We care for one another. And once people see what’s happening, they will speak up. They will write letters, call lawmakers and demand change. Because no one wants to live in a town without a doctor. No one wants to drive 90 minutes during a snowstorm to get help for a sick child. No one wants to see their parents or grandparents suffer because the nearest hospital shut down.

We can fix this, but only if we act soon. That means talking honestly about what this bill does, not just what it promises. It means holding leaders accountable, regardless of their party. And it means remembering that health care is not a luxury. Rather, its a basic part of life in a fair and caring society.

The “big, beautiful bill” may have a pretty name, but if it leads to broken hospitals and suffering communities, then it’s not beautiful at all.

Let’s work together to protect what matters most. Let’s stand up for AR Gould, for Maine Coast, and for every small-town hospital in this state. Let’s keep health care close to home, for our parents, our children and ourselves.

Because in Maine, we look out for each other. And that’s something no bill should take away.