The state’s Office of MaineCare Services plans to sever ties with a Connecticut company hired to broker car rides for MaineCare patients, following complaints that the company failed to deliver on thousands of rides. The company, Coordinated Transportation Solutions, signed a $28.3 million contract with the state last year and began operating Aug. 1. Almost […]
MaineCare
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine lawmakers to discuss MaineCare rides bills
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers are beginning to consider measures to overhaul the state’s MaineCare transportation rides system. The Department of Health and Human Services is taking public testimony on two measures Thursday introduced in light of problems in the current program that provides rides to appointments for MaineCare patients. Maine’s Office of MaineCare Services […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Hundreds demand expansion of Medicaid
AUGUSTA (AP) — Hundreds gathered at the Maine Statehouse on Wednesday urging lawmakers to expand Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul as the Democratic-controlled Legislature began its work for the new session. The presence of the roughly 350 people calling for Medicaid expansion foreshadows what’s certain to be another fiery debate in the Legislature […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn woman struggles as MaineCare ride problems continue
Laurie Thomas had to see her doctor. The 51-year-old diabetic and recent amputee was battling an infection on one foot and was concerned about a cut on her other leg. She had regular medical appointments and her doctor was taking care of her. She just had to get to him. So earlier this week she […]
Posted inLetters
C. Therriault: A common sense policy
Last spring Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill to accept federal funding for MaineCare through the Affordable Care Act, denying health care for 70,000 Mainers. Now thousands are falling through the cracks and going without the coverage they need. My son owns his own business and works almost 24/7 to make ends meet. He loves […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
CTS to use taxis to provide rides for MaineCare clients
PORTLAND — The MaineCare rides contractor under scrutiny for subpar performance is hiring more taxi companies to deliver rides to low-income patients. According to documents released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, 16 taxi companies with 68 vehicles were added to the list of potential or approved transportation providers for Connecticut-based Coordinated […]
Posted inLetters
H. Brooks: Biased consultants
The LePage administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has hired the Alexander Group to study MaineCare, including accepting federal funds to provide health care for 69,500 Mainers. Taxpayers are paying this out-of-state consulting group $925,000 to tell the administration what it wants to hear. The group is biased toward cutting programs, an observation based […]
Posted inLetters
T. McClure: Find your own health insurance
Is expanding MaineCare a good idea? On the face of it, it sounds like a good idea but it is not — for several reasons. — Expanding MaineCare is bad because it adds thousands of Mainers to the existing health care system. That leads to longer waiting lists and higher prices. An example can be […]
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmaker sponsors bill to revoke MaineCare ride contracts
AUGUSTA — A Democratic lawmaker has introduced a bill to revoke Maine’s contracts for a troubled non-emergency transportation program. The bill introduced by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash was admitted by a bipartisan panel of legislative leaders on Thursday for consideration next session. The MaineCare rides program has received reports of missed rides […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
MaineCare ride contractor has no performance bond
PORTLAND — The company under fire for its poor performance as a provider of non-emergency transportation for people in Maine’s Medicaid program failed to obtain a performance bond as required by its contract with the state. MaineCare patients have lodged thousands of complaints against Coordinated Transportation Solutions of Connecticut, mostly from people who say they […]