Good morning from Augusta. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will hear oral arguments today on whether the administration of Gov. Paul LePage needs to submit to the federal government a plan to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a key moment in advocates’ bid to force expansion.
It’s a fight in July about something that voters ordered done in April. When Maine voters approved Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act in 2017, they were directing the state to submit a simple plan to the federal government by April 3 and cover an estimated 70,000 Mainers by July 2. But neither has happened due to some mix of delays that involve all three branches of state government.
The Republican governor opposes expansion and vetoed a plan to provide start-up funding for the new law. Attorneys for the state are arguing that the Legislature’s failure to earmark funding for it doesn’t allow it implement the law. Advocates sued in April, saying surpluses could be used to fund the law. Now, they’re directing eligible people to apply for coverage if it’s granted.
To read the rest of “Maine high court to hear Medicaid expansion case today,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Michael Shepherd, please follow this link to the BDN online.
