Tag: Medicaid

RadioActive 4/10/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Program Topic: Waterville City Council supports federal minimum wage increase; the LePage administration’s attempts to restrict EBT card use, veto of Medicaid expansion bill

Key Discussion Points:
a) Last month, the Waterville City Council voted unanimously to support to an increase of the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and hour, and to send communications to elected representatives to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act, sponsored by Rep. Miller (D-CA) and Sen. Harkin (D-IA). We speak with the Mayor of Waterville.
b) The LePage administration is attempting to implement a change to include a photo id on EBT cards, which distribute funds for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). Based on past experiences, low income advocates and federal officials are concerned this would have an undue impact in recipients. 223,891 Mainers hold EBT cards.
c) LePage vetoes a bill that would have expanded Medicaid coverage to 70,00 Mainers under the Affordable Care Act. This is the third time he’s vetoed such a measure.

Guests:
Mayor Karen Heck of Waterville
Chris Hastedt, Maine Equal Justice Partners, public policy director http://www.mejp.org/

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Waterville_councilors_urge_federal_minimum_wage_increase_.html

http://www.raiseto1010.com/http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/gov_-lepage-has-little-to-show-from-fraud-hunt_2013-09-16.html

WERU News Report 1/21/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Last week the Maine legislature’s Health and Human Services committee held a public hearing, as they are considering amended legislation that would allow for Mainecare (Maine’s version of Medicaid) expansion, but include a sunset clause, allowing the state to drop the program after 3 years. The expansion would offer coverage to 70,000 Mainers. The Affordable Care Act was structured with the intent that the expanded Medicaid would cover people with incomes of less that 128% of the federal poverty level.

Today we’re going to hear some of the stories, told by people who have no health coverage, their family members, and people who work with them

FMI: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1202099#t=articleTop

WERU News Report 11/19/13

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

With all of the focus on the problems with the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, a looming health care crisis for some of Maine’s most vulnerable residents seems to be flying under the radar. In January, 25,000 low income Mainers will lose their Mainecare coverage, and others will not be able to qualify. And even if they could afford to purchase insurance thru Obamacare, a loophole in the law means that they will not get the subsidies that those with higher incomes will receive to make the prices more affordable.

Looking ahead to the next legislative session, White House staff joined Portland Mayor Michael Brennan and State Representative Linda Sanborn in hosting a phone conference yesterday to discuss the importance of expanding Medicaid coverage in Maine. Here’s what they had to say. (Also features a clip from a recent interview with Mitchell Stein, Policy Director for Consumers for Affordable Health Care)