SENATE REJECTS GOP’S ATTEMPT TO DELAY AND DENY PAYMENT TO MAINE’S HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE FOR 70,000 MAINERS

Posted: May 21, 2013 | Senator Goodall, Senator Jackson

Dems reaffirm commitment to reducing healthcare costs for people and hospitals

AUGUSTA—Today in party line votes of 20 -15, the Senate rejected delay tactics and amendments to yesterday’s historic measure preserving the acceptance of federal funds to expand healthcare coverage for nearly 70,000 Mainers, and the repayment to Maine’s hospitals.

“The time to accept this deal from the federal government is now. The time to pay back the hospitals is today,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall, D-Richmond. “We have an opportunity for the feds to pick up 100 percent of the costs. This is a deal we should not pass up. It’s a deal we can’t afford to pass up.”

Goodall added, “The people of Maine will lose out if we don’t take it.”

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.

Additionally, this measure 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.

“People’s lives are on the line. The Republicans should stop their delay and deny tactics and pass a bill that will address the costs of health care for Maine people and Maine’s hospitals,” said Assistant Majority Leader Senator Troy Jackson of Allagash.

The bill, LD 1546, “An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Hospitals, Increase Access to Health Care and Provide for a New Spirits Contract,” will now head to the House for further action.

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