AUGUSTA, Maine — A mental health counselor hand-delivered to lawmakers on Wednesday a petition with the signatures of nearly 9,000 people who oppose Gov. Paul LePage’s planned MaineCare cuts. Jennifer Lunden, executive director of the Center for Creative Healing in Portland, gave the 917-page document to Rep. Pat Flood, R-Winthrop, co-chairman of the Legislature’s Appropriations […]
MaineCare
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Man said he tried to blow up police car to draw attention to LePage’s MaineCare cuts
BANGOR, Maine — The man charged Saturday with trying to set on fire a cruiser parked at the Bangor police station told investigators he had hoped to draw national attention to Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed MaineCare cuts by blowing up a police car. Ian Bodger, 61, of Bangor used pieces of The New York Times […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
New study disputes LePage administration on MaineCare’s childless adults
AUGUSTA, Maine — The childless adults Gov. Paul LePage has proposed dropping from MaineCare are far from young and healthy, despite rhetoric to the contrary, according to a report released Monday by an advocacy group for the poor. More than 40 percent of childless adults covered through MaineCare are older than 45 and many have […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Meeting on DHHS budget abruptly called off
AUGUSTA, Maine — The battle over Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services took a new turn Thursday when the Legislature’s budget writing committee abruptly canceled a meeting scheduled for Friday. Members of the Appropriations Committee have said recently they need more information from the department before continuing deliberations […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Cuts to MaineCare, welfare approved in spring 2011 taking effect
AUGUSTA — Changes in the state budget approved last spring and now in effect include cutting MaineCare coverage for hundreds, stopping food stamps for some and, in two weeks, telling 2,500 people receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Your time’s up. Also coming soon: new rules that end TANF benefits for some immigrants and a […]
Posted inOp-Eds
New round of MaineCare cuts not the first
You may have read about some proposed future cutbacks in MaineCare benefits. You may not know that the state has already cut benefits to a small, voiceless group of patients. As of October, Maine eliminated health insurance for 500 permanent Maine residents who did not commit fraud and were following program rules. They lost coverage […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Crack down on MaineCare abusers, audience at Presque Isle forum says
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — A standing-room-only audience crowded into Northern Maine Community College on Wednesday afternoon for the second of three regional meetings held so that Aroostook County residents could weigh in on Gov. Paul LePage’s supplemental budget and its proposed reductions to MaineCare costs. Several urged the state to crack down on those abusing […]
Posted inLetters
J. Wilson: DHHS cuts are short-sighted
A lot of attention has been given to the governor’s proposed cuts to MaineCare. There is one area of cuts that will actually cost taxpayers much more in the long run. Targeted case managers are available to a very limited number of MaineCare recipients. I have been blessed beyond measure because one has been provided […]
Posted inLetters
J. Lagrange: Unfair to target the old, disabled
I am responding to Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget cuts, which includes 30 program cuts like Section 8, MaineCare, food stamps, and so on. If the governor passes a bill to cut the programs, there will be a statewide panic which will lead to higher crime, higher death rates and more homeless people. I think […]
Posted inLetters
D. Mitchell: Governor’s cuts hurt cancer patients
Recently, Gov. Paul LePage released a budget proposal that includes drastic cuts to Medicaid. Not only would 65,000 Mainers lose coverage under his plan, but thousands of people with cancer would see their coverage completely eliminated. That makes me sick. Others, who would remain on Medicaid, would have their cancer prevention, treatment and services severely […]