AUGUSTA — Proposed changes to state rules for how methadone and Suboxone clinics serve Medicaid recipients threaten to drive some of those clinics out of business in the midst of an unprecedented addiction crisis in Maine, advocates for medication-assisted treatment testified Monday. The draft rules, proposed recently by the Maine Department of Health and Human […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Analysis: How Maine redirected millions meant to help poor families
Last summer, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services publicly touted plans to use more than $3 million in unspent federal welfare funds in an “innovative” way that would direct more money to services for elderly and disabled Mainers. The transfer, Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said at the time, represented a “reprioritizing […]
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USDA says Paul LePage’s threat can end food stamps in Maine
PORTLAND — If Gov. Paul LePage follows through on this threat to cede Maine’s administration of the federal food stamp program, the federal agricultural agency said it can’t run it, due to a lack of authority and funding. Maine unsuccessfully applied for a waiver to ban using food stamps for buying sugary drinks and candy. […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage: Maine will ban buying junk food with food stamps
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage says despite his proposal being rejected by the Legislature and federal government, Maine will move forward with restricting the purchase of what he calls junk foods with food stamps in Maine — or give up administration of the program altogether. “It’s time for the federal government to wake up and […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine DHHS overpays $2.7 million in SNAP benefits
AUGUSTA — More than 3,000 Mainers face bills from the state or federal government because they received too much food stamp funding due to errors by the state. Some of those Mainers face reductions of up to 10 percent of their food stamp benefits, seizure of their income tax refunds or garnishment of up to […]
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Mary Mayhew says DHHS re-evaluating outsourcing Meals on Wheels
In a talk Wednesday with business leaders in Presque Isle, Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew said the agency is not necessarily going ahead with plans to issue a request for proposals seeking competitive bids to run the federally funded Meals on Wheels program. The meals are currently provided by area agencies […]
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DHHS implements new rule on reissuing lost EBT cards
When a client of the Office for Family Independence asks for an EBT card replacement for the fifth time in 12 months, the office will ask for a reason. The previous four replacement requests will be granted automatically, according to a DHHS statement issued Wednesday. If the client does not respond to the request for information, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
EPA focuses on Lewiston-Auburn landlords in new lead paint effort
LEWISTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched an effort to clean up lead paint in Lewiston-Auburn. Curt Spaulding, the EPA’s regional administrator in Boston, said the effort was unique to Lewiston-Auburn, the area with the highest number of lead-poisoned children in the state. The agency has put painting and renovation contractors, landlords and […]
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DHHS says Mainers made more money after going off food stamps
AUGUSTA — Making a moral case for Gov. Paul LePage’s welfare agenda, his administration released a report on Wednesday that touted income gains for people culled from Maine’s food stamp rolls. It revolves around the Republican governor’s 2014 move to reinstate federal work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents between the ages of 18 and 49. To receive food […]
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Report says Riverview failed to adequately track staff behavior
AUGUSTA — A report released Friday by the Maine Legislature’s watchdog group found that Riverview Psychiatric Center hasn’t tracked staff behaviors that could undermine safety at the facility. It was among minor problems flagged at the hospital, which was decertified by the federal government in 2013 after violations including restraint and use of a stun […]