PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Four rural Maine hospitals are going to be participating in an experiment that will increase the amount Medicare reimburses the hospitals for care they provide.

Maine U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud says hospitals in Waterville, Ellsworth, Farmington and Damariscotta will participate in the program run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program.

Michaud says the program will provide crucial funding to small hospitals that are struggling under the current Medicare reimbursement formula.

The program was originally authorized in 2003 in response to concerns of small, rural hospitals. The federal health care reform law reauthorized the program for an additional five years.

The Maine hospitals are among 19 facilities selected to participate in the demonstration in six states.

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