AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A legislative panel has OK’d an investigation into a computer error that caused the state’s Medicaid program, known as MaineCare, to continue covering thousands of people after they lost eligibility. The bipartisan Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize a investigation by the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability. […]
MaineCare
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Another 5,300 mistakenly left eligible for MaineCare benefits, report says
AUGUSTA, Maine — As officials work to nail down how much a Medicaid computer error will cost the state, the problem’s potential scope has widened. The Department of Health and Human Services originally estimated that the error led the state’s Medicaid program, known as MaineCare, to continue paying medical bills for up to 19,000 beneficiaries after they […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
After Maine finds extra $14.3 million, what’s next for budget process?
AUGUSTA, Maine — Tuesday’s discovery of an extra $14.3 million in state revenue has thrown a wrench into the Legislature’s budget negotiations. The co-chairs of the Appropriations Committee — Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, and Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop — were expected to meet Wednesday with House and Senate leadership to discuss options. The statutory adjournment date for […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
In rare move, lawmakers override LePage MaineCare veto
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers scored their first veto override in a decade Wednesday, drowning out Gov. Paul LePage’s objections to restore MaineCare services to special-needs children in the state’s schools. The 35-0 vote Wednesday in the Senate came without debate and a day after a House vote of 124-16. The measure directs the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Disabled people needing help feel Maine cutbacks
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Ethan Kelly, who has cerebral palsy, graduated from high school in June to the cheers of his classmates and friends. Since then, the 21-year-old has been living at home, needing the constant care of his parents. “My wife and I and Ethan, it’s 24-7,” said Alden Kelly, 55, whose family lives […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Methadone for MaineCare patients capped at two years under bill
AUGUSTA, Maine — Drug-addicted Medicaid patients would lose coverage for methadone treatment after two years under a bill green-lighted Monday by a legislative committee. The bill, LD 1840, limits reimbursement for methadone for opiate addiction to 24 months unless the provider gets approval for longer treatment ahead of time from the Department of Health and […]
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Walgreens settles civil complaint in Maine
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s top federal prosecutor says Walgreens has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle claims that it improperly billed Maine’s Medicaid program. U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty II said Thursday that a civil complaint alleged that the national drug store chain unjustly profited between November 2007 and July 2010 by billing MaineCare for […]
Posted inLetters
R. Reed: Time to fix the problem
MaineCare enrollment has increased from 250,000 to 361,000 lives over the past 10 years of Democratic leadership in Augusta. The argument continues as to whether this increase of more than 110,000 at a time when Maine’s overall population has been stagnant is due to an influx of those seeking lucrative social service benefits. But look […]
Posted inLetters
L. Lockman: Which vision will prevail?
Look no further than the recent debate over Medicaid reform for evidence that two fundamentally different philosophies of government are competing for the allegiance of Maine voters. In a recent op-ed column, Rep. Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, made the case for the Democrats’ progressive, redistributionist philosophy that has prevailed for the past four decades in […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Glitch gives MaineCare checks to ineligible recipients
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — State officials say they’re trying to determine the overall cost of a computer malfunction that resulted in up to 19,000 people receiving MaineCare services even though they were ineligible. State Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew revealed the problem Tuesday to legislative leaders and members of the Appropriations Committee. The […]