DEMS CALL FOR END OF FLOUNDERING MAINECARE RIDE CONTRACTS

New measure proposes terminating broker contracts

AUGUSTA—This morning, Democratic leaders gave full backing to a new measure to revoke the LePage administration’s failed MaineCare transportation contracts.

“It is unacceptable that for more than three months people have been left stranded waiting for rides to their doctor’s appointments. It’s reckless that taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars in services that are not being delivered. And it’s worse that the LePage administration is silent,” said Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson, the sponsor of the bill. “We’ve reached a boiling point, there is a crisis and the only comment we get from the Executive Branch is ‘no comment’. That’s not leadership and it’s certainly not problem solving.”

Support for the bill comes a day after the revelation from the Executive branch that they failed to secure a required insurance policy known as a “performance bond” protecting the state’s financial interest and leverage with one of the three ride brokers responsible for delivering services for the $40 million program. 

Jackson added, “For a governor who wants to run the state like a business, the Executive branch just mismanaged the people’s business.”

Performance bonds are required to protect the state in the event it is forced to cancel its contract. The performance bond was valued at more than $5 million.

“For months now, Governor LePage has sat on the sidelines instead of bringing folks together to find an alternative ride system.  It’s time to show some leadership. Let’s all get around the table and get another system in place so our most vulnerable citizens can get to their doctor’s appointments,” said House Majority Leader Seth Berry of Bowdoinham.

In August, the Department of Health and Human Services switched from a transportation program operated by local nonprofits to a regional system run by so-called ride brokers. Since then, the new system has been plagued with failures and complaints from thousands of clients who are not getting their contracted rides to necessary medical appointments. Clients have had difficulty booking rides and in one notable case, a caller was placed on hold for 21 hours. Patients have missed appointments because rides have been delayed, or failed to show up completely. In one case, a woman’s three-year-old son was taken to the wrong house after school.

“People were happier with the old system,” said Senator Colleen Lachowicz of Waterville. “We’ve given this new system more than enough time and a chance to work and it is not working. There’s no more ‘wait and see.’ Now is the time to fix it.”

Senator Lachowicz is sponsoring a bill to create a more reliable and efficient system based on the Vermont model. Vermont contracts directly with the providers of the rides, rather than going through a broker system. Vermont’s locally controlled system is approved by the feds.

“These contracts have been bungled and mismanaged at every turn,” said Rep. Drew Gattine of Westbrook, who serves on the Health and Human Services Committee. “Continuing down this road is bad for our most vulnerable citizens and it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

Senator Jackson’s bill will be one of the bills considered when the legislative session convenes in January.

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