AUGUSTA (AP) — A legislative committee has approved a bill to make changes to the troubled system that provides non-emergency rides to Maine Medicaid patients.
The Portland Press Herald reports that the Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday endorsed the bill that would terminate the contracts of the state’s three current brokers on June 30, and compel the Department of Health and Human Services to seek proposals for new contracts more friendly to local nonprofits.
The bill now goes to the full Legislature.
The system, implemented Aug. 1 to meet federal guidelines, brought in contractors to arrange rides for MaineCare patients. But there were thousands of complaints from patients who said they missed rides to medical appointments.
Democratic state Rep. Drew Gattine of Westbrook called the problems a “train wreck.”
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