HISTORIC HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITAL MEASURE PASSED BY MAINE SENATE
Bill could be on governor’s desk today
AUGUSTA—Today in a 20-15 party line vote, the Senate gave final approval to a historic measure to accept federal funds to expand healthcare coverage for nearly 70,000 Mainers, and repay Maine’s hospitals.
“Voting for this bill is what we were sent here to do,” said Majority Leader Seth Goodall, D-Richmond. “In one swoop of the pen, we will pay off the hospitals, improve drinking water, stabilize the budget, and accept healthcare payments for 70,000 Maine people.”
Nearly 70,000 Maine people can receive healthcare coverage if Maine accepts the federal government’s offer: the federal government has agreed to pay 100% of the cost for covering all newly eligible people for the first three years, and then gradually lowering its payment to no less than 90 percent of the cost by 2020.
“People are dying; their lives are on the line and we’re debating whether it’s the right thing to do,” said Senator John Patrick, D-Rumford. “I am proud to say I’m willing to pay the hospitals back fully, I’m proud that 70,000 working poor are going to get health care, and I will take that vote each and every day.”
This measure also makes the final payment to Maine hospitals totalling $485 million in state and federal dollars. Maine hospitals will also receive an additional $163 million a year in federal dollars for treating newly insured Maine residents, and will save money on their charity care costs.
According to the Maine Hospital Association, both bad debt and charity care cost $450 million last year, an increase of $32 million from the previous year.
“This is the best vote I’ve ever taken in my 11 years in the Legislature,” said Assistant Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “This is for the people of Maine, people like me, and I’m more than glad to take this vote.”
The Appropriations Committee exempted the bill, LD 1546, “An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Hospitals, Increase Access to Health Care and Provide for a New Spirits Contract,” from the special appropriations table, meaning the bill will now be sent directly to the Governor. It could be on his desk as early as today.
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