Increasing Access to SUD Treatment
in Portland, Maine

On June 6, 2023, the Office of Governor Janet T. Mills announced that her administration awarded $6 million in funding to six substance use disorder treatment providers, including Pine Tree Recovery Center. The funding will allow the Portland-based detoxification and intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) center to expand, opening up 40 new beds for Mainers in need of professional detoxification services.

The Guardian Recovery Network facility recently announced its in-network contract with MaineCare, Maine’s Medicaid program. Pine Tree Recovery Center’s in-network status with MaineCare removes a significant financial barrier many Maine residents face when seeking treatment for substance use disorders.

Breaking Barriers to Effective Addiction Treatment

“The biggest obstacle Maine faces in tackling rising addiction cases is availability of and access to treatment services,” says Kerry MacDonald, Pine Tree Recovery Center’s Executive Director. “Partnering with MaineCare will remove barriers and allow more Mainers access to the professional care they need. Pine Tree Recovery Center’s partnership with the State of Maine to expand residential treatment beds for SUD will allow more Mainers access to top-tier treatment and quality care. This grant will help us create 20 new residential beds for individuals with SUD that may not otherwise have been able to receive help.”

Increasing Access to SUD Treatment in Maine

The grant advances Maine’s Opioid Response Strategic Action Plan, which prioritizes the availability of individualized, affordable, and effective treatment options. Under the Mills Administration, the State of Maine has already provided health insurance coverage through MaineCare expansion to over 100,000 Mainers, with over 25,000 individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorders.

The June Press Release reads, “Strengthening treatment capacity is part of the Mills Administration’s commitment to ensuring that Maine people with substance use disorders have access to a full array of services, from prevention and early intervention to medically supervised withdrawal, treatment and recovery.The Governor’s budget proposal for the 2024-2025 biennium, along with the change package, included an historic $267 million for behavioral health services and payment rate increases, adding to the $230 million invested in behavioral health services in the 2022-2023 biennium.”

About Pine Tree Recovery Center

Since first opening its doors, Pine Tree Recovery Center has been focusing on providing Maine residents with the quality addiction treatment services they need to make a lasting recovery and heal from the devastation of substance dependence. The facility offers medically monitored detoxification and intensive outpatient treatment services, helping Mainers lay solid foundations for long-term sobriety and mental health recovery.

Guardian Recovery Network’s addiction treatment centers have been increasing access to effective addiction treatment options for over 15 years, actively combating rising numbers of overdose fatalities across the country. Having become a national leader in substance use disorder treatment, Guardian continues to refine their client-focused approach to recovery, changing lives permanently and for the better.