I keep hearing that Maine’s Democrats want to add 70,000 people to MaineCare. These people are able to work and are not disabled. Someone explain to me why I have to pay $7,000 per year for my family’s insurance premiums, deductible and co-pays. Where is the workingman’s piece of pie? The cost of insurance has […]
MaineCare
Posted inMaine, sj-web
House overturns LePage veto of bill designed to help MaineCare recipients quit smoking
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly overrode Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill designed to reduce tobacco-related illness in Maine, but the House narrowly sustained a budget bill veto that could reduce state revenues by about $7 million between now and mid-2015. LePage last week vetoed LD 386, An […]
advertisement
Posted inLetters
S. Sokol: The right thing to do
Two bills are advancing in the Maine Legislature, one dealing with the expansion of MaineCare and the second with the establishment of a single-payer system. The expansion of MaineCare is voluntary and the Legislature’s vote to implement that was vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage. While I do understand the fiscal concerns involved, facts clearly show […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
State will not renew contract with Connecticut ride broker CTS
The state’s Office of MaineCare Services plans to sever ties with a Connecticut company hired to broker car rides for MaineCare patients, following complaints that the company failed to deliver on thousands of rides. The company, Coordinated Transportation Solutions, signed a $28.3 million contract with the state last year and began operating Aug. 1. Almost […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers to discuss MaineCare rides bills
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers are beginning to consider measures to overhaul the state’s MaineCare transportation rides system. The Department of Health and Human Services is taking public testimony on two measures Thursday introduced in light of problems in the current program that provides rides to appointments for MaineCare patients. Maine’s Office of MaineCare Services […]
Posted inMaine, 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 inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn woman struggles as MaineCare ride problems continue
Laurie Thomas had to see her doctor. The 51-year-old diabetic and recent amputee was battling an infection on one foot and was concerned about a cut on her other leg. She had regular medical appointments and her doctor was taking care of her. She just had to get to him. So earlier this week she […]
Posted inLetters
C. Therriault: A common sense policy
Last spring Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill to accept federal funding for MaineCare through the Affordable Care Act, denying health care for 70,000 Mainers. Now thousands are falling through the cracks and going without the coverage they need. My son owns his own business and works almost 24/7 to make ends meet. He loves […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
CTS to use taxis to provide rides for MaineCare clients
PORTLAND — The MaineCare rides contractor under scrutiny for subpar performance is hiring more taxi companies to deliver rides to low-income patients. According to documents released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, 16 taxi companies with 68 vehicles were added to the list of potential or approved transportation providers for Connecticut-based Coordinated […]
Posted inLetters
H. Brooks: Biased consultants
The LePage administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has hired the Alexander Group to study MaineCare, including accepting federal funds to provide health care for 69,500 Mainers. Taxpayers are paying this out-of-state consulting group $925,000 to tell the administration what it wants to hear. The group is biased toward cutting programs, an observation based […]