Expanding access to Medicaid under ACA goes to Maine voters
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced Tuesday that a citizens’ initiative calling for expansion of the state’s Medicaid system under the federal Affordable Care Act has enough valid signatures to be placed on the November ballot.
The Portland Press Herald reported that Mainers for Health Care submitted 66,434 valid voter signatures, more than enough to meet the threshold of 61,123 signatures.
The newspaper reported that if the MaineCare referendum is approved by voters, Maine law would change the requirement for the state to provide federally approved Medicaid services through MaineCare to eligible individuals under age 65, setting an income eligibility level for individuals with income equal to or less than 133% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that would mean an income of $32,252 or less.
The newspaper reported, however, that the referendum effort faces hurdles in efforts by President Trump and Republicans in Congress to repeal the ACA as well as Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s push for additional cuts that would shrink MaineCare eligibility.
Mayhew issues statement
In a statement issued Wednesday, Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew warned that the ballot initiative to expand Medicaid would cost Maine taxpayers more than $400 million over five years. She also pointed out that Gov. Paul R. LePage has vetoed Medicaid expansion five times and that the Legislature sustained each of those vetoes.
"Maine has already experienced the devastating consequences of expanding Medicaid, and doing so again would be irresponsible and return Maine’s budget from its current state of stability to one of perpetual crisis,” Mayhew said in the statement. “A bloated Medicaid system means fewer resources for Maine’s most vulnerable citizens—our elderly and disabled. When MaineCare is running $50 million to $100 million annual shortfalls — it hinders the state from making investments in other key priorities, such as our infrastructure, law enforcement, economic development or lowering Maine’s uncompetitive tax rates for businesses and individuals.”
Mayhew’s statement asserted that Medicaid expansion in Maine would only expand coverage to able-bodied 21-to-64-year-old adults, most of them without dependents. It would not expand coverage to a single child, pregnant woman, disabled person, or senior citizen — all of whom are already eligible for Medicaid or Medicare coverage, she stated.
“If the citizen’s initiative is successful and Maine expands Medicaid, it will undoubtedly put us back into financial disarray forcing us to return to the days of crisis management,” Mayhew stated. “We would not have the ability to meet core priorities or anticipate increasing demands with our rapidly aging population or the number of children diagnosed with autism who will soon graduate from school in need of services. Those individuals will pay the price for expansion and the taxpayers will certainly suffer the consequences.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include statements issued Wednesday by Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew.
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