Recently Governor LePage held a community forum here in Windham. It was well attended and the governor stayed beyond the scheduled hour to take questions from those attending.

One of the questions asked was what the governor thought we can do to increase the availability of treatment for those battling substance abuse. Governor LePage’s response was that he is looking into providing treatment programs in our jails. He did not mention the option of expanding access to health insurance or mention that many of our residents battling substance abuse do not have health insurance. He also did not mention that one of our primary treatment centers in the Portland area (Mercy Recovery Center) had to close last summer in part because of reduced payment rates from MaineCare (Medicaid) and an increasing number of patients without insurance. Currently the state bears the cost of medical treatment for prisoners.

I asked a related question about Medicaid expansion. I thanked the governor for his efforts to encourage people to work. Given his and my belief that work is good for people, I did not understand why he opposes the expansion of Medicaid given that access to medical care can help people stay healthy and prevent conditions like heart attacks or strokes that can limit someone’s ability to work.

He responded that the Affordable Care Act is failing and the states that have expanded Medicaid are going broke. I said that was not true. The data in the states that have expanded Medicaid already show significant increases in both income to the state and access to care for patients. I told the governor that we would have to agree to disagree.

Anyone interested in reading about the effects in two states that expanded Medicaid in different ways can find a report at: http://statenetwork.org/resource/state-network–medicaid-expansion-states-see-significant-budget-savings-and-revenue-gains/.

Republican senators Saviello and Katz have a bill in this Legislative session to expand Medicaid. I hope everyone will encourage their state representatives and senators to support this bill so we can help all Maine residents get access to health care and ensure that they can get the care that will allow them to function at home and at work. Plus, expanding Medicaid will pay for the medical care of prisoners while they are in jail and after they are released.