AUGUSTA (AP) — A coalition of police agencies and medical providers is backing another attempt to expand Medicaid coverage in Maine, this time with a “hybrid” plan.
Republican Senator Tom Saviello, who rolled out the proposal at a press conference Tuesday, said it would provide Medicaid coverage for people below the federal poverty line and subsidized private health insurance for low-income people above the poverty line.
Police organizations say they support the bill because most people who are addicted to drugs are uninsured and can’t afford treatment.
Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said it would oppose the measure because adding thousands of able bodied, childless adults to Medicaid rolls would be so expensive that it would take away funds from programs for state’s neediest people, such as those with developmental disabilities.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less