EDITORIAL: Funding Medicaid expansion must be a priority for lawmakers
If there is one thing lawmakers must complete before officially adjourning the session for good, it is Medicaid expansion. First, despite roadblocks from the governor and opposition from some Republican lawmakers, expansion is the law. Second, since it is law, delaying it only wastes time and money.
Most important, expanding Medicaid means thousands of Mainers who don't have insurance will be able to access preventative care, vaccinations, addiction treatment, counseling and other needed care. Currently, many people without insurance put off doctor's visits until illnesses or injuries become so bad they threaten their work and well-being. It will also help stabilize the state's hospitals and add jobs.
On Monday, advocates for expansion sued the
Last year, voters strongly endorsed an expansion of Medicaid in
By expanding Medicaid,
In his State of the State speech in February, LePage said he would implement Medicaid expansion if it is paid for without raising taxes. This is a fairly easy bar to clear, especially as the state has surplus revenue. But, since then, LePage has thrown up other roadblocks.
The voter-approved law set out a specific timeframe for
By
That deadline, too, is likely to be missed. Hence, the lawsuit, which is likely to force the state to follow the law and implement the voter-approved expansion.
The lack of action is more political than practical. LePage and other opponents of expansion want to tell their supporters that they stood up to what they wrongly call an expensive, liberal idea. It is not a coincidence that House Majority Leader
Lawmakers, who have approved expansion five times only to have it vetoed by LePage, can begin to resolve the impasse by setting aside the politics and allocating funding to enable expansion to begin.
Resolving this impasse should be a priority for lawmakers when they return to
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