Amazon, Warren Buffett and JPMorgan are forming a new company to address the health care costs of their employees, sending shares of health care companies down sharply across the entire sector despite the vague nature of the announcement. On Tuesday Amazon’s Jeff Bezos said that he, along with Buffet and JPMorgan, would attempt to make […]
health care
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Community Health Options sues federal government for second time
A Maine-based health insurance cooperative is suing the federal government over a decision to stop some reimbursements under the Affordable Care Act. Community Health Options, based in Lewiston, filed the lawsuit in federal court, seeking nearly $5.7 million in reimbursements that were supposed to be issued during the last three months of 2017. The nonprofit […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Paul LePage tells lawmakers 'show me the money' on Medicaid expansion
Despite strong support for expansion of Maine’s Medicaid program by voters, Gov. Paul LePage sure doesn’t sound like he has any intention of letting it happen on his watch. “The money has got to be in the bank before we expand,” LePage said during a swing through Lewiston this week to campaign for a mayoral […]
Posted inFranklin, sj-web
Maine hospitals among nation's best
Bridgton and Franklin Memorial hospitals were among seven in Maine named Top Rural Hospitals on Thursday by the Leapfrog Group. For Bridgton Hospital, the award is especially significant because it’s the second time it has been named among the best in Maine. “This prestigious recognition is really a tribute to the positive and dedicated efforts […]
Posted inBusiness
Amazon backs out of pharmaceutical wholesaling in Maine
Maine has canceled Amazon’s applications to become a pharmaceuticals wholesaler, according to state officials. The retail giant’s applications were canceled because they did not contain all the required information, and no action had been taken by the applicant to complete them, according to Anne Head, the head of the state Department of Professional & Financial […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Community health centers face financial fall
LEWISTON — Community health centers in Maine are bracing for a funding crash that could lead them to lay off workers and stop providing some medical care. Federally qualified health centers are approved by the government to provide health care to the under-served — often those in rural communities, poor families and people without insurance. […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Despite criticism, Susan Collins is confident that GOP leaders will stand by their word
Swirling through the political world this week is a growing debate about whether U.S. Sen. Susan Collins got snookered, hornswoggled or duped by Republican leaders to gain her vote in favor of a controversial tax overhaul. The Maine Republican cast her ballot for the $1.5 trillion proposal at least in part because she secured a promise from […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Susan Collins defends controversial tax bill
For U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul is a mixed bag. The Maine Republican, who voted for the Senate version last week, said late Monday the bill “is by no means perfect and it’s not the bill I would have drafted.” But, she said, it offers hope for tax relief that’s worth […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Jim Handy introduces bill to restore student health centers in 15 schools across the state
Maine lawmakers will take up a bill in the next legislative session to unwind the impacts of a last-minute state budget deal that slashed funding unexpectedly to more than a dozen school-based student health centers. The proposal by Rep. Jim Handy, D-Lewiston, would restore 15 school-based health clinics that lost funding last July. Thousands of […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Expanding Medicaid a hot issue on Tuesday's ballot
If the Medicaid expansion referendum on Tuesday’s ballot is approved by voters, at least 70,000 low-income Mainers would likely enroll in the federal program to secure health care coverage that many of them lack. For proponents, Question 2 is a way to boost the economy and save lives, paid for mostly by the federal government, […]