To the editor:
MaineCare accountability is a must. I concur with the two commonsense petitions filed by Lead Maine. The petitions are intended to force the Maine [Department of Health and Human Services] to consider tighter rules on MaineCare providers to protect “We the people” of Maine and our tax dollars.
Our MaineCare program represents the lion’s share of Maine’s budget, to the tune of $1.4 billion annually. The increased number of news articles and investigations into the program’s funding is alarming, to say the least. The taxpayers of Maine deserve tighter and more transparent oversight of MaineCare. Full enforcement of existing rules and regulations would greatly reduce mismanagement of funds, i.e. in-person inspections instead of “desk review” by phone, which is totally insufficient.
Many elderly Mainers think, “I’ve got MaineCare — I’m covered.” Wrong. Due to the reckless mismanagement of MaineCare funds, an increasing number of care providers are refusing to accept MaineCare as a viable payment source. They cannot continue to operate under the ever-dwindling reimbursement rate.
MaineCare is broken. It needs immediate radical oversight to restore the program to a viable means of quality health care for seniors, children, or persons with a disability.
Peggy Robinson
Houlton
