I am writing in response to a guest column (Dec. 30) by state Sens. Garrett Mason and Michael Thibodeau regarding Medicaid expansion. I find it rather odd that those two senators receive free health insurance from us, the taxpayers, but refuse Medicaid coverage to uninsured Mainers. How hypocritical can they be? This, at the same […]
Medicaid
Posted inLocal & State
DHHS to release Medicaid report Friday
LEWISTON — The Department of Health and Human Services has scheduled a 1 p.m. news conference Friday to present findings of the so-called Alexander report. Gary Alexander, who has been contracted by DHHS to study Maine’s welfare programs, will also attend to present his “Feasibility of Medicaid Expansion in Maine under the Affordable Care Act” […]
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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 inLocal & State, sj-web
Hundreds rally at State House in full-court press on Medicaid expansion
While Mainers who have lost their health care coverage or are not eligible for MaineCare without expansion told their stories, the political challenge of winning expansion this session was as clear as the broadcast from Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s television, beaming down his welfare-reform message on the assembled activists: “Maine’s Medicaid program is crowding out […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Michael Thibodeau, Garrett Mason: Obamacare rollout doesn’t inspire confidence in Medicaid expansion
Those who liked the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), are going to love the federal government’s offer to Maine to expand its Medicaid welfare program. And if you’ve been paying any attention to the Obamacare launch, there’s not much to like so far. These two topics, Obamacare and Medicaid expansion, have dominated the […]
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmakers to review Maine Medicaid study contract
AUGUSTA — The Auditor General for the State of Pennsylvania said Monday that he has his doubts about how well the Maine Department of Health and Human Services vetted a company that it awarded a nearly $1 million no-bid contract to in September. Meanwhile, two committees of the Maine Legislature are expected to discuss the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
DHHS commissioner makes case against expansion
PORTLAND — The head of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services reiterated Gov. Paul LePage’s stance against Medicaid expansion in the state, telling Portland business leaders Wednesday morning that the move would ultimately cannibalize other parts of the state budget. Mary Mayhew, commissioner of DHHS, spoke to the Portland Community Chamber at one […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Obamacare advisory panel steers clear of advocating for Medicaid expansion
AUGUSTA — A committee charged with overseeing the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act in Maine shied away Monday from pushing the Legislature and Gov. Paul LePage on the controversial issue of expanding Medicaid eligibility in Maine even though the majority of its members favor it. Though all but one member of the Maine […]
Posted inLocal & State
Study misses deadline
AUGUSTA — The first part of a five-part study on Maine’s welfare system that had a target due date of Dec. 1 has not been submitted to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, a department spokesman said Monday. The Alexander Group, the consulting company awarded a nearly $1 million no-bid contract for the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine health officials to study Medicaid expansion
AUGUSTA — The state has agreed to pay $1 million to an outside consultant to evaluate Maine’s Medicaid program and study whether it should be expanded under the federal health care overhaul, officials said Tuesday. Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services signed the contract with the Alexander Group, led by Gary Alexander, former welfare chief […]