Northern Light Health

The announcement means that all Northern Light providers will remain in-network with Anthem for at least another month.

As of Wednesday, October 1, non-hospital providers at Northern Light Health are out-of-network with Anthem.

If they fail to reach an agreement, Northern Light physicians will be out-of-network for Anthem patients starting in October, and hospital-based services will be out of network at the end of the year.

In a statement, Northern Light Officials say that about 300 people are being laid off as part of a Financial Improvement Plan.

The news comes after Northern Light Health announced last week that it was ending contract negotiations with Anthem. Northern Light will soon be out of network for Anthem patients unless they can agree on a contract.

The current contract expires at the end of September, but Anthem said it will be extended through the end of the year if the two organizations are still negotiating.

After the closure of Northern Light's Inland Hospital and the state's budget stalemate, concerns rise about whether hospitals have the funds to continue operating through the turbulence.

Credit rating agency S&P Global said the downgrade reflects persistent operating losses.

Spokesperson Suzanne Spruce said the decision was necessary due to recruiting challenges.

The presidents of Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Inland Hospital in Waterville, and the Northern Light Foundation have all resigned.