More coverage: LePage sparks debate over expanding Medicaid AUGUSTA — Maine Democrats say they’ll reintroduce a measure in January to expand Medicaid coverage to more low-income residents under the federal health care overhaul. Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick and Assistant Democratic Leader Anne Haskell of Portland on Tuesday called on Republican Gov. Paul […]
politics
Posted inMaine
Maine Democrats and LePage renew debate over Medicaid expansion
AUGUSTA — Leaders in the Legislature’s Democratic majority renewed calls Tuesday to expand the MaineCare system to cover an additional 70,000 people, including childless adults and veterans who have non-service-related medical issues not covered by the Veterans Affairs Administration. House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, disputed Republican claims that accepting federal funds under the Affordable […]
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Posted inMaine
LePage sparks debate over expanding Medicaid
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage said expanding the state’s Medicaid program, MaineCare, would mostly benefit younger men who smoke and drink heavily. Pointing to a newly released study in the Annals of Family Medicine, LePage said expanding the state’s health care program for poor to include more single adults would only hurt elderly Mainers already on […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Lawmakers looking to trim exemptions from Maine tax code
AUGUSTA — Eliminating any of the state’s tax exemptions and credits will be politically challenging but may be necessary to avoid further cuts to municipal revenue sharing, Maine lawmakers said Monday. A special group of lawmakers, state officials and economists that’s been tasked with examining the state’s tax breaks, exemptions and credits to come up with […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Medicaid expansion anything but ‘free money’ from the Feds
A Sept. 6 editorial in this newspaper suggested that Maine will soon be missing out on “big checks” from the federal government to pay for health insurance in Maine. The piece took Gov. Paul LePage and many Republicans in the Legislature to task for not agreeing to expand MaineCare (Maine’s version of Medicaid) to an […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Herrick, Gray focus on Auburn school seats
AUBURN — Two candidates seeking to reform the City Council and the School Committee decided this week to focus on the schools. Dan Herrick and Joe Gray had completed petitions putting them on the ballot for seats on both boards. They withdrew their nominations for the City Council seats, according to City Clerk Sue Clements-Dallaire. […]
Posted inOur View
Riverview’s most dangerous patients must be moved
Forensic patients at Riverview Psychiatric Center in Augusta are “running the show,” according to an employee who works there. This employee, who recently spoke to the Sun Journal on the condition that we not use a name for fear of retaliation, said “the most violent, sociopathic and antisocial clients are in a hospital setting where […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Raye files for 2nd Congressional District bid
AUGUSTA — Former Maine Senate President Kevin Raye has filed his paperwork for his bid to fill the 2nd Congressional District Seat. Raye, a Republican, said in a release on Thursday that it’s crucial that the party nominate a candidate who will appeal broadly to Maine residents and has the “ability to hit the ground […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Panel looks at Maine unemployment system
AUGUSTA — Labor union representatives, advocates and Maine state workers changes need to be made to the state’s unemployment compensation system to make it more efficient and fair. A special commission established last spring took public testimony Thursday. Republican Gov. Paul LePage set up the commission in April to examine the system of paying benefits […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Pharmacy groups challenge Maine’s drug importation law
AUGUSTA — Several Maine pharmacy organizations have joined with a major pharmaceutical trade group to challenge the legality of a new Maine law that allows international firms to fill mail-order prescriptions. The Maine Pharmacy Association, Retail Association of Maine, Maine Society of Health System Pharmacists, and several individual Maine pharmacists, along with national industry group […]