Beginning March 25, the Department of Health and Human Services is changing services for MaineCare’s nursing home residents. Residents will be allowed only four days of hospital care per fiscal year and still have their bed held at their nursing home. More than that and they will be discharged unless they pay to keep their […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Democrats cool to LePage’s change to hospital bill
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has proposed amending his hospital debt repayment bill in an effort to address questions Democrats have raised about whether it’s constitutional to use a state-issued revenue bond to pay off the state’s $484 million debt to its hospitals. A key Democratic legislative leader welcomed the move but wasn’t convinced the […]
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Posted inSun Spots
Wheelchair purchase requires approval
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Monday, Nov. 19, you printed a letter about obtaining a wheelchair from the Scooter Store in answer to the lady who wrote Nov. 1. I am hoping you will let this lady and your other readers know that: yes, the Scooter Store personnel are very nice on the phone and will tell […]
Posted inMaine
Hospitals laud governor’s plan to pay debt
LEWISTON — Hospital officials on Tuesday applauded Gov. Paul LePage’s plan to pay them the millions of dollars they’re owed. They said they would use the money to pay off debt, make capital improvements and compensate employees. “We’ve had to dip into a line of credit to pay our bills,” said Chuck Gill, spokesman for […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage to announce repayment plan for $186 million owed to hospitals
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage will unveil a plan Tuesday afternoon to pay $186 million the state owes in back payments to hospitals. The governor will release his proposal during an event at the University of New England’s dental school, which is under construction on Stevens Avenue in Portland. Maine’s 39 hospitals are owed $484 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Feds allow limited cuts to Medicaid, not to level sought by LePage
AUGUSTA, Maine — The federal government will allow Maine to make limited cuts to its Medicaid program, but not to the extent Gov. Paul LePage ’s administration had sought last yearas it looked to close a $20 million budget hole. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday notified state officials that they can cut some low-income […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Two-year cap on methadone treatment for MaineCare patients starts Jan. 1
BANGOR — A new law geared to save taxpayers millions of dollars by placing a 24-month lifetime cap on state funding for MaineCare patients using methadone to treat their opiate addiction goes into effect Jan. 1. The proposed policy rules to implement the law are under review by the Maine attorney general’s office, according to […]
Posted inMaine
New Legislature facing plenty of red ink
AUGUSTA — The 126th Legislature, which takes office this week, faces serious financial problems, including addressing funding needs that could reach $200 million in the current budget year that ends June 30. “I think that the new Legislature could see a $150 to $200 million supplemental budget,” said Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, the outgoing co-chairman […]
Posted inLetters
P. Burns: Not treated equally
I am a 77-year-old widow and do volunteer work, which I really enjoy. Because of my eyesight, I know the time will come when I will no longer be able to drive. I still want to be able to volunteer, so I called Western Maine Transportation but was told that because I didn’t live on […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
States hunting for Medicaid savings
AUGUSTA — Maine is not alone among the states that have reduced spending for Medicaid programs, a health care spending consultant on Tuesday told a panel that’s looking to add to cuts that already have been imposed. Cuts elsewhere range from eyeglasses and eye exams to hearing aids, dental care, chiropractic services and mental health […]