The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee will not have to subpoena members of the governor’s administration to compel them to answer questions about the Riverview Psychiatric Center. Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew and Riverview Superintendent Jay Harper have agreed to meet with the committee on Jan. 22. “We appreciate their cooperation […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
USDA says Maine is too slow to process SNAP applications
AUGUSTA — The United States Department of Agriculture says Maine is the slowest state in the country at processing applications for food stamps. Officials with the USDA sent a letter to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 7 that says data for the first six months of this year show the […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Legislative committee may subpoena DHHS, Riverview leaders
The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee may soon subpoena more members of the governor’s administration — this time to compel them to answer questions about the Riverview Psychiatric Center. The committee voted Thursday to invite Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew and Riverview Superintendent Jay Harper to appear to talk about staffing […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
ACLU, abortion providers sue DHHS over MaineCare rule
AUGUSTA — Abortion providers and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the state Tuesday in a bid to overturn a longstanding rule limiting low-income women’s access to a state-funded abortion. It’s buried deep within a set of rules developed in 1981 and last revised in 2010, before Gov. Paul LePage took office. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine to try another soda, candy ban for food stamps
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said Monday that it has asked the federal government to allow it to ban the purchase of soda and candy with food stamps. It’s a longstanding goal of the Republican governor that is virtually assured to fail: States can’t regulate purchases under the federal and state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills
Paris man indicted on marijuana charges
PARIS — Richard R. Jackson, 48, of King Hill Road in Paris was indicted Oct. 16 on charges of possessing more than a pound of marijuana and cultivating 100 or more marijuana plants. The charges come more than a year after police seized 18 pounds of marijuana and 173 plants from two King Hill residences in […]
Posted inMaine
Failed Maine DHHS lawsuit costs taxpayers $108,000
AUGUSTA — A failed federal lawsuit and subsequent appeal by the administration of Republican Gov. Paul LePage that was turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court has cost Maine taxpayers $108,000 in legal fees paid to a law firm outside state government. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services released the legal costs paid […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poll: Should Maine deny food stamps to applicants with more than $5,000 in assets?
Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced a new rule that any person applying for SNAP benefits would be ineligible if they had more than $5,000 in personal assets. But advocates for the poor said Wednesday the proposal wasn’t real welfare reform but more of the same from Gov. Paul LePage’s administration. Should Maine deny […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Keeping Riverview open without federal aid would cost $24.5 million
AUGUSTA — Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew told lawmakers on Monday that the state will likely have to absorb the cost of running Riverview Psychiatric Center unless major changes are made. Mayhew asked for guidance on whether Maine should continue to accept federal funding or whether lawmakers would prefer using state […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Health care accreditation group gives Riverview high marks
AUGUSTA — The Riverview Psychiatric Center received high marks in a survey by a national health care accreditation group, underscoring progress made at the hospital after it lost federal certification when an inspection uncovered problems, Maine Department of Health and Human Services officials said. The report last week from the Joint Commission, a leading national health […]