LAWMAKERS TAKE UP BIPARTISAN HEALTH CARE PLAN

Maine Senate set to debate bipartisan plan

AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate will to take up a bipartisan plan for life-saving health care for 70,000 Mainers, including 2,700 veterans.

The federal government has offered to pay 100 percent of the cost of health care for tens of thousands of Mainers under the Affordable Care Act. Key moderate Republicans and Democrats have worked on a bipartisan plan, LD 1487, to accept these funds.

“Expanding access to healthcare will strengthen our economy and create jobs and save money, but most importantly, it will save lives,” said Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “Each one of the 70,000 people waiting to see if we will step up and do the right thing has a story to tell, a family they love, dreams and plans for their future, and a life to live. Let’s not let them down.”

This is a common sense bipartisan proposal saves lives, saves money and creates jobs.

The bipartisan plan includes a managed care program to lower the cost of health care and hold government and providers accountable for making sure people have access to appropriate care at an appropriate time, while also ensuring fair prices. It also puts in place a plan to reduce the wait list for home care services for Mainers with intellectual disabilities and adds two new Medicaid fraud investigators to step up fraud prosecutions.

“We have a good-faith compromise that would accept federal dollars to provide life-saving health care to 70,000 Mainers,” said House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick. “We have an opportunity to change lives for the better and improve the health of thousands of our neighbors. It’s the right thing to do.”

The House is expected to take up the bill on Thursday.

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