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AUGUSTA (WGME) -- In-home health care is hitting a crisis in the state, leaving some Mainers in limbo as providers discontinue services.
This comes as reimbursement rates have lagged behind, leading to staffing challenges and funding gaps.
"I don't know what I would do without it," Cindy Dow, who is disabled and relies on at-home nursing care for her day to day needs, said. "Showering, dressing, food, cleaning. Everything that you need if you're disabled."
As of next month, Dow's provider will end its at-home nursing program.
In a letter to patients, Assistance Plus out of Benton blamed "critically low funding" and lagging reimbursement rates for their decision.
It's led patients like Dow scrambling to find another provider to continue services so they can stay in their homes.
"I've been trying to brainstorm with my case manager to find out what can we do and so far we don't have any answers," Dow said. "I'm not ready to be in a nursing facility. I want to stay. I want my own space."
"We 've realized for a number of years that the RN and LPN rates in home care weren't enough to keep these businesses afloat," Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine Executive Director Laurie Belden said. "We just can't compete."
Belden says reimbursement rates currently lag behind $7-$8 an hour.
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Legislation did move forward at the State House this session, but funding wasn't included in the supplemental budget. While the Department of Health and Human Services says rates have increased for some at-home services like Personal Support Specialists, advocates say it's still not enough.
"It's just, when it comes down to the dollars, other priorities have taken place and, unfortunately, it's not home care at this point," Belden said.
It's an open-ended issue that's left patients to fight for solutions.
"If I just give up, well, I'll end up where I don't want to be," Dow said.