AUGUSTA (AP) — A Maine legislative panel is once again examining a bill that would expand Medicaid under the federal health care law and make other significant changes to the state’s program.
The Health and Human Services Committee will hold a work session Monday on the Medicaid expansion measure crafted by two Republican senators. The committee is expected to vote on the bill this week.
The measure would expand coverage to roughly 70,000 Mainers and implemented managed care in the program. Under managed care, the state would contract with three or four organizations that would compete for patients and set up provider networks across the state.
The bill is aimed at garnering more GOP votes to override a veto by Republican Gov. Paul LePage, which says the expansion will be too costly and draw funding away from the waiting list of those who are most in need of aid, such as the disabled elderly.
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