Maine could expand Medicaid in statewide vote
Medicaid could be expanded in Maine via a unique method: a statewide ballot referendum.
The Portland Press Herald reported an advocacy group, Maine Equal Justice Partners, is launching a petition drive to collect the signatures needed to put the Medicaid expansion issue directly to voters. Legislators in Maine have approved expansion five times, but it was repeatedly vetoed by Maine Gov. Paul LePage.
Tom Saviello, a Republican state senator who sponsored the last attempt at expansion, said the benefits to the state will outweigh the costs, including lowering charity costs for hospitals and putting downward pressure on prices.
“A colonoscopy costs a few thousand, but cancer can cost $50,000 or more,” Saviello said. “You can’t look at the cost of expansion in a silo.”
For more on the initiative, including the resistance from Gov. LePage and where the Maine Hospital Association stands, click on the link below:
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.