Committee rejects human services cuts
A legislative committee yesterday rejected $58 million of the $91 million in cuts proposed by Gov. John Baldacci in human services.
The Health and Human Services Committee turned down more than half the suggested cuts levied against the Department of Health and Human Services, including a 10% reduction to Medicaid reimbursements and other hospital reimbursements, and cuts to elder services, nursing facilities and mental health programs, according to the Kennebec Journal. But the appropriations committee questioned the rejections, saying the human services committee should have proposed alternative reductions in order to meet the governor's budget limits. Human services committee members said they had a tight deadline in which to report back, and that alternatives are in the works.
In related news, DHHS has proposed using federal stimulus funding to ease cuts to general assistance, according to the Portland Press Herald. The stimulus money would fund community food, housing and health assistance programs, filling a $2.1 million gap in general assistance funding for municipalities. The appropriations committee is expected to review the measure.
Go to the article from the Kennebec Journal >>
Go to the article from the Portland Press Herald >>
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