On Sept. 15, the Sun Journal published a piece co-authored by several Republican legislators regarding the debate about whether Maine should accept federal funds for health care. A cornerstone of the Affordable Care Act is that states accept funds to provide 69,500 of Maine’s lowest income people health care through MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.

The Maine Legislature passed a bipartisan bill to accept the federal funds, which would cover 100 percent of the cost for the first three years and then slowly taper until the federal government is covering 90 percent of the total cost. Gov. Paul LePage vetoed the bill. The Legislature was just a few votes shy of being able to override that veto.

Accepting federal funds for Medicaid expansion has gotten the support of several Republican governors throughout the United States. Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, and Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona exemplify Republican governors who put the best interest of their states above politics.

In Maine, debate has seemed to focus on whether Maine can afford to cover more people. But the state cannot afford not to. Not only is expanding MaineCare the morally right thing to do, it will also save the state and hospitals money and create jobs.

The Maine Democratic party platform “affirms quality health care as a fundamental human right.” The Maine Republican party platform seeks to “clarify that health care is not a right. It is a service.”

Health care is a human right. It is not meant to be a profit-driven service. Everyone deserves the basic human dignity of quality health care. In my training as a physician, we were not taught to discriminate based on one’s ability to pay.

At a recent event, Gov. LePage mistakenly told a constituent that she shouldn’t worry about the letter she received about losing her MaineCare because she could get subsidies through the exchanges. This is simply not true. If Maine doesn’t accept the money available, the poorest of our friends and family will be left out. The subsidies were intended to start helping those making more than 100 percent of federal poverty level. Those making less than 100 percent were expected to be enrolled in Medicaid and, without expansion, will have no option for affordable care.

It is unconscionable to deny the poorest among us, those who need access to care the most, for purely political purposes.

Illness can strike anyone at any time. A disease doesn’t know who has the best insurance policy. However, the course of the illness is influenced by early detection and treatment. Screening tests for cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors are proven to improve outcomes. Preventative medicine is critical.

Democrats in the Legislature are going to be introducing a bill to reconsider accepting federal funds for MaineCare expansion. There was some bipartisan support the first time, but more is needed, and I am hopeful that Maine’s Republican legislators can be counted upon to do the right thing for their constituents.

Many lives are at stake in this debate and subsequent action. Let us be on the correct side of history.

Heidi Brooks, M.D., of Lewiston is the co-chair of the board of the Maine People’s Alliance.

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