Kudos to Dr. John Bennett for his comments about the ongoing Department of Health and Human Services computer problems (July 13). The media need to keep on top of that problem because the Baldacci administration is not going to provide information concerning their titanic situation unless pressured by the media; after all, next year is an election year.
Medicaid is an interesting program. The Maine Legislature in 1995 (and I was there), allowed for a massive expansion of insurance coverage for mental health problems: attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance abuse, whatever. Democrats voted for it; Republicans voted against it.
Fast forward to today and a number of health agencies depend on Medicaid for over half of their income.
Mental and physical health programs have become a giant shuffle of billing for services, and there are agencies whose only function is expediting payments for services rendered.
As the state of Maine enters new clients into the Medicaid program and expands the program, problems such as Dr. Bennett’s can become even worse.
DHHS has not fixed the computer problems, so let’s hear from other doctors until the problem is fixed. The public needs to know how their tax dollars are being spent.
Walter R. Gooley, Farmington
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