LifeFlight of Maine Cuts Staff Turnover as Rural Flights Surge
NPR reports that LifeFlight of Maine, a nonprofit air ambulance service, has nearly reached full staffing for the first time in nine years after years of retaining only 60% to 70% of its workers, using better training, higher pay, and in-house mental health support. Demand for its medical flights has doubled since 2015, with 3,031 flights in 2025 and a further 10% increase this year, as rural hospitals close or drop services like labor and delivery and ground ambulance services struggle to keep up. NPR cites CBO estimates that Medicaid cuts of $911 billion over ten years will put hundreds more rural hospitals or maternity departments at risk of closing, which the article says will push even more demand onto air and ground EMS. By the end of the year, Maine will have lost 12 labor and delivery departments, creating a statewide shortage of birthing centers.