While her family came to the U.S., Banah Al-Hanfy, 20, was left alone in Iraq when the president’s immigration order prevented her from boarding a plane.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Politics
Sen. Collins’ plan for replacing Affordable Care Act holds seeds for compromise
One policy analyst says it’s innovative to use Health Savings Accounts to help pay for coverage, but another expert sees serious drawbacks in the Obamacare alternative.
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Posted inNation & World, News
A Q&A on the Patient Freedom Act, the proposed ACA substitute
Many aspects of the plan, including typical premiums and deductibles, remain unclear.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Sen. Collins’ plan would replace ACA with individual health savings accounts
The Maine senator hopes to attract support from both parties with a plan that offers thousands in annual payments to people for their health care.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Politics
Medical ethics bill targets drug company payments to Maine doctors
The proposal would restrict gifts and other spending that promote prescribing of opioids in a state that is trying to curtail patient use of the painkillers.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Maine fishermen hooked on Obamacare, but now benefits are threatened
Enrollment levels are high in Maine communities where lobstermen tend to live, and many have coverage for the first time.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Maine’s Sen. Collins co-develops plan to replace Affordable Care Act
It would let states keep the ACA insurance programs they have or try other options, she says, hoping millions would avoid losing health coverage after a repeal of the law.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Collins, King split votes on starting Affordable Care Act repeal
In an overnight vote, Collins voted with all but one fellow Republican to repeal the health care law.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
ACA repeal would jeopardize addiction treatment for about 8,300 Mainers, researchers say
The loss of coverage in the state would come amid an opioid crisis in which an average of one person a day dies from an overdose.
Posted inNation & World, News, Politics
Collins leads effort to slow Senate push to repeal Affordable Care Act
She and four other Republicans want time to come up with a replacement before the vote, as others warn the change is a complex process.