SENATE PASSESS HEALTH CARE EXPANSION

Legislature puts politics aside to “do what’s right” for Maine people

AUGUSTA—Today, with bipartisan support, the Maine Senate voted 23-12 to accept federal health care funds to expand healthcare coverage to nearly 70,000 low-income and working Mainers.

“People’s lives are on the line. We must put politics aside and do what is right for the people of Maine,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall of Richmond. “We cannot be siloed in one belief or another. When you need health care you are not thinking about political party lines, you are trying to do what’s best for your health. We have an opportunity to get it done and help Maine people.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, 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 lower payment to no less than 90 percent of the cost by 2020. Maine is projected to save $690 million in the next 10 years if it accepts the federal dollars, according to the nonpartisan Kaiser Foundation and the conservative Heritage Foundation. Maine is also one of 10 states that will see Medicaid expenditures go down over the next 10 years.

“Building a strong economy and a strong middle class means making sure people have the health care they need, when they need it, at an affordable cost,” said Senator Geoff Gratwick of Bangor who is a practicing physician. “Accepting federal funds will strengthen Maine’s economy and provide health coverage to thousands of hard-working Mainers.”

According to a recent Rand Corp. study, states that fail to accept the federal funds to expand health care will lose $8.4 billion in federal funding and will spend an additional $1 billion on charity care costs.

“My philosophy is that everyone should have health insurance,” said Assistant Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “If I wasn’t serving in this chamber, I would be one of the people covered under this act. I assure you I am able bodied, but without health insurance I would be 100% ruined at this point. The last operation I had cost more than $120,000. I won’t make that much money in six years. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have health insurance.”

Nearly 70 percent of Maine people support accepting federal health care dollars to increase access to health care, according to the nonpartisan Maine People’s Resource Center.

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. The Maine Hospital Association has gone on record for its support of accepting federal health care dollars.

Those opposed to accepting the federal dollars have argued that Governor LePage should be given more time to negotiate a better deal for Maine. However, DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew received written confirmation from the director of the federal Center for Medicaid Services, that this is the best deal for Maine.

“These rates are set by law, and CMS has no authority to change the matching rates by regulation or waiver,” said Cindy Mann, director of CMS. “The unprecedented matching rates for newly eligible individuals ensures that Maine can continue to cover low-income adults with significant savings over the 10-year period.”

The bill, LD 1066, “An Act To Increase Access to Health Coverage and Qualify Maine for Federal Funding,” was amended to ensure savings and sunsets the acceptance of federal dollars after three years on December 31, 2016. It now faces additional votes in the House and the Senate before reaching the Governor’s desk.

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