But their satisfaction at securing new MaineCare dental benefits, an insulin safety net and higher pay for direct care workers is tempered by failures to ban flavored tobacco and rein in drug prices.
MaineCare
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: Stop shutting immigrants out of health coverage in Maine
A lesson of COVID that we should never forget is that we all have a stake in each other’s health.
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Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine House and Senate advance bill to expand dental coverage under MaineCare
Maine is one of only 10 states that do not cover preventive and restorative dental care under their Medicaid programs.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Dental care is health care. Mainers need access to it.
L.D. 1501 provides a way for the dental profession and our state to protect all children from preventable dental disease.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Direct care workers urge lawmakers to raise pay rates to combat staffing shortages
A workforce shortage and low wages have created a crisis for those who need help from direct care workers. On Monday, some workers made their case for a pay hike to the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Uncategorized
Committee approves bill on party lines to restore MaineCare benefits to noncitizen immigrants
The measure cleared the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee with majority Democrats favoring the change and Republicans opposing it.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Let’s close gaps in MaineCare to achieve health equity for all Mainers
For the well-being of every resident and Maine’s economy, everyone needs access to affordable care, regardless of their immigration status.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: We can do better by Mainers with intellectual disabilities, their caregivers
Federal COVID aid can boost front-line workers’ pay and ensure internet access for every disabled child.
Posted inLocal & State, News
State seeks to boost pay for workers who care for disabled Mainers
Workers who provide direct care to adults with autism or intellectual disabilities were left out of an emergency funding package in March that increased reimbursement rates for other home-care workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Lawmakers want to put $8.5 million toward addressing ‘crisis’ in Maine home-care industry
The proposal comes weeks after a large home-care provider for elderly and disabled people announced it will close in April, in part because of low reimbursement rates for workers.