Jackie Farwell
Health Editor
Jackie Farwell of Gorham is health care editor for the Bangor Daily News. Farwell began her career with the BDN a decade ago, leaving in 2006 for a job with The Associated Press in New York. She most recently was employed by Mainebiz. In addition to health care, Farwell covered energy, real estate development, banking and finance for Mainebiz. Working from Portland, Farwell will cover both health care finances and health issues that directly affect Maine residents. Outside of her workday, Farwell is a fitness enthusiast who hikes, cross-country skis and rides horses. She completed her first 5K road race this summer.Maine Medical Center sues federal official over nearly $3 million in unpaid medical claims
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine Medical Center has sued U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over nearly $3 million in unpaid medical claims for patients with government health insurance. The outstanding bills date back a decade and cover treatment that the Portland hospital provided to patients covered ...
Health costs must come down, former Obama health official tells Mainers
AUGUSTA, Maine — The crisis of rising health care costs in America leaves the country with two choices: Sacrifice patient care or fight a monumental battle to improve it in ways that ultimately will save money, according to a nationally recognized health expert who visited Maine on Wednesday. Dr. Donald ...
Hospitals take on building projects despite MaineCare debt
As drivers pass through Augusta on Interstate 95, Maine’s newest hospital comes into view just off Exit 113. Four stories of brick and gleaming glass now stand in what was once a grassy field, a $322 million project just months away from opening to patients as the Alfond Center for ...
Merger of three medical practices would be milestone in Maine
A proposed merger among three medical practices in Auburn and Greater Portland would mark the largest consolidation of independent physician practices in recent Maine history, according to those involved. Central Maine Orthopaedics, a 12-physician practice in Auburn, and OA Centers for Orthopaedics, a 16-physician practice in Portland, announced plans late ...
Baby chicks may be cute, but salmonella isn’t
Baby chicks may look cute nestled in Easter baskets this time of year, but bacteria could be lurking in those cuddly little feathers. Offered for sale online and in feed stores during the spring months, baby chicks can carry salmonella, even when they appear healthy and clean. Public health officials ...
Rally urges state to accept federal money to expand MaineCare
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Thomas Ptacek never expected to rely on MaineCare or the veterans health services he was entitled to after serving as a psychiatric technician with the Navy during the first Gulf War. But after he became homeless four years ago at the age of 40, Ptacek found ...
Report: Hancock Maine’s healthiest county, Piscataquis ranks last
Hancock is Maine’s healthiest county, while Piscataquis is home to the state’s least healthy residents, according to new rankings released Wednesday. About 17 percent of residents in last-place Piscatquis County are in poor or fair health, compared to 13 percent in Hancock County, an independent annual report by the Robert ...
How ‘profitable’ are Maine hospitals? Depends on whom you ask
The money that Maine owes to its hospitals under the MaineCare program has touched off fevered political debate in recent weeks, with the hospitals warning of “dire consequences” that could jeopardize access to health care. Finding out how the debt has affected hospitals’ bottom lines is difficult as the state ...
Maine announces first-ever state plan for confronting Alzheimer’s
AUGUSTA, Maine — The number of Mainers living with Alzheimer’s disease will jump from 37,000 today to more than 53,000 by 2020, according to a new state strategy aimed at helping individuals suffering from the condition and their caregivers. The new state plan, Maine’s first to address Alzheimer’s and related ...
Erik Steele to leave Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems for Ohio job
BREWER, Maine — Dr. Erik Steele, a former emergency room doctor who rose through the ranks to become chief medical officer of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, is leaving for a job in Ohio. Steele, a longtime health columnist for the Bangor Daily News, will become chief medical officer at Summa ...
Health coalition’s CEO to lead national nonprofit
PORTLAND, Maine — Elizabeth Mitchell, CEO of the Maine Health Management Coalition, has been hired to lead a national nonprofit that helps communities improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care. Mitchell has directed the coalition, an employer-led organization representing purchasers, health providers and insurance plans, and its ...
Merger between EMHS, Portland’s Mercy Health gets federal OK
Federal regulators have greenlighted a proposed merger between Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems and Portland’s Mercy Health System of Maine. The Federal Trade Commission notified EMHS this week that regulators have completed an antitrust review of the proposed deal, Suzanne Spruce, an EMHS spokeswoman, said Friday. The commission granted EMHS and ...
Some policyholders could see 47 percent hike when health insurance rate increase kicks in March 1
About 7,000 Maine customers of Mega Life and Health Insurance Co. will be affected by a rate change set to take effect March 1. While some policyholders will see their health premium costs drop by nearly 33 percent, others will be hit with rate hikes of up to 47 percent, ...
Bid for Parkview hospital stalls on dispute with state over review process
BRUNSWICK, Maine — Central Maine Healthcare’s bid to acquire Parkview Adventist Medical Center in Brunswick has been delayed by a disagreement with the state about its review process, according to state and health system officials. CMHC announced Thursday that it had asked the Maine Department of Health and Human Services ...
Maine wins $33 million to test health care innovations
Maine will receive up to $33 million from the federal government over the next three and a half years to test a plan to improve residents’ health care while cutting costs. Maine and five other states are the first recipients of more than $250 million in funding awards made under ...
Skowhegan practitioners fined over medication error cited in patient’s death
SKOWHEGAN, Maine — A doctor and physician assistant practicing in Skowhegan have been reprimanded and fined by a state licensing board after the death of a patient. Dr. Florello Quianzon and physician assistant Kathleen Lees were reprimanded by the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine and each fined $1,000 for ...
Doctors with histories of substance abuse return to practice with monitoring
A Bridgton doctor has been granted a probationary medical license after participating in substance abuse treatment after his removal from work at a local hospital. Kevin Kendall was sent home from Bridgton Hospital’s emergency department on July 29, 2012, after behaving erratically, according to a Feb. 12, 2013 consent agreement ...
Bill targets reporting of health providers with addiction problems
AUGUSTA, Maine — New legislation seeks to update Maine law governing the reporting and discipline of medical professionals suspected of having substance abuse problems. The bill would require state medical licensing boards to investigate any report of alcohol or drug use by a physician that could indicate a substance abuse ...
Health groups urge Congress to limit air pollution coming into Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine — Congress must act to address air pollution from out of state that’s sickening too many Maine children and seniors, the American Lung Association charged Wednesday at a State House news conference. The association announced a “healthy air agenda” that it described as a “four-point blueprint for cleaning ...
Auburn research firm finds promise in cholesterol drug
AUBURN, Maine — An experimental medicine shows great promise in treating a condition that causes sky-high cholesterol levels among some French Canadians, according to a Maine cardiologist involved in the hot new area of pharmaceutical research. The genetic disorder, called familial hypercholesterolemia or FH, can cause exceedingly high levels of ...
Police find remains believed to be Nichole Cable, 15, in Old Town woods
Orono man charged with murder in death of Glenburn teen
LePage hopes to eliminate income tax by end of second term
Family remembers Nichole “CoCo” Cable, warns of social media dangers
Nichole Cable: In our minds, hearts
Obama’s boyfriend line
Ignore LePage politics, get to root of DHHS funding needs
UMaine narrows candidate list, hopes to name men’s hockey coach next week
Eastport teen notches first ‘Bandolero’ racing victory
Houlton makes plans for new hockey boards at Millar Civic Center
Former Dexter, Nokomis coach Pratt takes Mount View football post
UMaine’s Fransoso overcomes injuries, turns passion for baseball into stellar career
Fun, informative or just plain strange: 8 museums in Maine worth a road trip
Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors dies at age 74
Microsoft unveils new Xbox One game console
Bangor veteran of World War II exemplifies the way life should be