HEALTH
HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO LIVE
4@
4@ THEIR
4@ THEIR LIVES, AND STAY OUT OF NURSING HOMES.
THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THOSE
PATIENTS ARE PAID FOR BY4@
MEDICAID.
BUT THE COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE
THOSE SERVICES SAY
THEY NEE4@D A RAISE IN WHAT THE
STATE PAYS THEM. OR THEY COULD
BE
FORCED TO SHUT DOWN.
LEGISLATORS ARE POINTING TO ONE
SHUT DOWN, NOT FAR FROM THE
STATE HOUSE, AS A WARNING.4@
NEWS CENTERS MAINE'S DON
CARRIGAN HAS THAT STORY.4@
11
11
11 HOME
11 HOME CARE OF MAINE ANNOUNCED A
FEW WEEKS AGO IT WILL SHUT DOWN, MORE THAN 600 PATIENTS
LOSING CARE, MORE THAN 300
WORKERS LOSING JOBS.
SOT SHENNA BELLOWS 10 25
THE CLOSURE OF HOME CARE FOR
MAINE MUST BE A WAKEUP CALL FOR
SOT SHENNA BELLOWS 10 25 THE CLOSURE OF HOME CARE FOR MAINE MUST BE A WAKEUP CALL FOR@
ALL OF US HERE IN AUGUSTA.
AGENCIES CANNOT CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THESE VITAL SERVICES AT
A LOSS.
NOW LEGISLATORS ARE TRYING TO
FIND A TEMPORARY FIX, SO MORE 4@
PROVIDERS DON'T GO OUT OF
BUSINESS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT MEDICAID4@
REIMBURSEMENT RATES SET BY THE
STATE HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH THE
RAPID INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM
WAGE. OR WITH OTHER NEW MANDATES
ON PROVIDERS. 4@
LIKE JILLIAN JOLICOER OF
ASSISTANCE PLUS IN BENTON.
SOT JILLIAN 41 52 4@
IN MY OPINION WE ARE A LARGE
PROVIDER BUT EVERYONE OF US
4@ IN IN THE CIRCUMSTANCE WHHERE W@
ARE CRITICALLY
UNDERFUNDED
SEN. SHENNA BELLOWS AND REP.
THOM HARNETT ARE ASKING
LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE AN EIGHT
AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR
INCREASE
IN THE REIMBURSEMENT
RATE...THAT MONEY WOULD GENERAT@
MORE FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS FOR
THOSE MEDICAID
PROVIDERS. AND THE LAWMAKERS SA@
IT WOULD MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE.
SOT HARNETT 14 43
WE CANNOT HAVE MORE PLACES LIK4
HOME CARE FOR MAINE CLOSING ITS
DOORS. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
A LONG TERM CARE CRISIS.
GOVERNOR MILLS DID NOT INCLUDE4@
ADDED FUNDING FOR HOME CARE
WORKERS IN HER SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET. INSTEAD SHE IS LOOKING
TO
AN OVERALL STUDY OF
REIMBURSEMENT RATES, EXPECTED
TO BE DONE LATER THIS YEAR.
BUT THE PROVIDERS AND THE
LEGISLATORS SAY THEY PROBLEM
IS A CRI4@SIS AND NEEDS ACTION
NOW.4@
SOT JILLIAN 42 50
I THINK IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT
TO FUND HOME CARE UNTIL WE GET
OUR
RATE STUDY COMPLETED. 4@
SOT BELLOWS 33 N18
WE CAN'T K4@EEP ASKING THE
PRIVATE SECTOR TO PROVIDE A 4@
SERVICE AT A LOSS A SERVICE WE
ALL AGREE IS IMPORTANT.
STA NDER'
THIS BILL IS BEING DONE AS AN
EMERGENCY MEASURE MEANING 4@
THAT IF THE LEGISLATURE PASSES
IT AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNS 4@
IT, MONEY COULD BEGIN TO FLOW
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE 4@
4@HOME CARE PROVIDERS SAY THE ND
IS THAT URGENT. IN
AUGUSTA DON CARRIGAN NEWS CENTER
MAINE.
MAINE.
MAINE. THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN4@ SERVICES IS REVIEWING THE BILL.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE STATE
4@
4@ SENATE
4@ SENATE SAY THEY SUPPORT THE BILL.