Legislators had a dramatic demonstration Wednesday of the state’s new transportation system for MaineCare clients. Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, picked up his cell phone during a legislative committee hearing and dialed the number provided to some MaineCare recipients. As Peterson held his cell phone to the microphone, the number rang once and a recorded voice […]
MaineCare
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
Board considering expansion of day-treatment program
FARMINGTON — RSU 9 school directors are considering a request to expand the day-treatment program at the high school to allow two middle school students to be served. If the district is not able to serve the students locally, they would need to be sent out of district at a cost of more than $70,000. […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine House OKs extending drug treatment coverage
AUGUSTA — The Maine House has approved a bill to extend MaineCare coverage for certain drug addiction treatments to more than two years. The House gave final approval to the bill Wednesday. It allows for the continuation of MaineCare coverage for methadone and Suboxone if a person is pregnant, has serious and persistent mental illness […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
GOP lawmaker proposes adding $75M to Medicaid expansion for disabled
AUGUSTA — A Republican representative’s proposal to provide services to hundreds of people with disabilities on waiting lists would add a $75-million-a-year price tag to a bill that would expand Maine’s Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act. Rep. Deborah Sanderson of Chelsea said Tuesday she plans to attach two amendments to the Medicaid […]
Posted inOur View
Governor should extend Medicaid to more Mainers
Our governor has a short fuse, and his anger toward Barack Obama was on display Monday in Washington when he pledged to do whatever he can to kill ObamaCare in Maine. But Gov. Paul LePage’s political differences with the president should not prevent 65,000 Mainers from receiving basic health care coverage at no additional cost […]
Posted inLetters
L. Grandmaison: Throwing elderly into the streets
My sister-in-law is 81 years old and in an assisted living facility. Being a nun, she has served others ever since joining the order of Sisters of St. Joseph’s in her teens. Nuns take the vow of poverty, never allowed to have many possessions or money. Under the letter that residents received, they cannot leave […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, River Valley, The Franklin Journal
Changes to local transportation services discussed at community network meeting
RUMFORD – The community relations director of Western Maine Transportation told the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition on Wednesday that starting June 1 a nonprofit firm will take over arranging rides for MaineCare clients. Craig Zurhorst, speaking at the Rumford Public Library, said Western Maine Transportation will turn to Coordinated Transportation Solutions, a nonprofit organization, […]
Posted inLetters
N. Johnson: MaineCare changes impact elderly, disabled
Beginning March 25, the Department of Health and Human Services is changing services for MaineCare’s nursing home residents. Residents will be allowed only four days of hospital care per fiscal year and still have their bed held at their nursing home. More than that and they will be discharged unless they pay to keep their […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Democrats cool to LePage’s change to hospital bill
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has proposed amending his hospital debt repayment bill in an effort to address questions Democrats have raised about whether it’s constitutional to use a state-issued revenue bond to pay off the state’s $484 million debt to its hospitals. A key Democratic legislative leader welcomed the move but wasn’t convinced the […]
Posted inSun Spots
Wheelchair purchase requires approval
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Monday, Nov. 19, you printed a letter about obtaining a wheelchair from the Scooter Store in answer to the lady who wrote Nov. 1. I am hoping you will let this lady and your other readers know that: yes, the Scooter Store personnel are very nice on the phone and will tell […]