Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare is projecting it will spend $30 million on labor costs this year as the health system employs 170 traveling nurses at $150 per hour, the Sun Journal reported March 9.
The health system still has 200 vacant nursing positions to fill, Central Maine President and CEO Steve Littleson told the local chamber of commerce.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health system received $40 million in temporary loans in the form of advanced Medicare payments that it now must pay back. Mr. Littleson said the payments are adding to the hospital's financial stress.