This week, the federal government approved Maine’s State Plan Amendments to expand Medicaid, known as MaineCare, under the Affordable Care Act.
This approval marks the end of a long-overdue effort to fulfill the will of Maine voters and to help tens of thousands of people access health care.
Good morning, I am Janet Mills, governor of the State of Maine. Thank you for listening.
More than a year ago Maine voters, including many of you listening right now, voted overwhelmingly to expand Medicaid at the ballot box.
The benefits of expansion – including the injection of hundreds of millions of dollars of federal money into our state– will extend to rural hospitals, to businesses, and to our economy as a whole. And, by the way, Medicaid expansion is the law.
Maine people have waited long enough.
That is why on my first day in office I issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Health and Human Services to implement Medicaid expansion as swiftly as possible.
Since that time, we’ve already enrolled 18,129 Maine people in health care coverage under the Medicaid expansion program.
Federal approval means the federal government will finance more than $800 million in estimated costs for those who enroll under the expansion from July 2, 2018 - the effective date of expansion - through state fiscal year 2021.
Those are Maine taxpayer funds that are finally returning to our state to support affordable health care coverage.
Medicaid expansion has the power to change many Maine people’s lives for the better and, even save lives.
Now people can see a doctor, they can receive preventive care, they can afford critical prescription medications, and much more.
Now they can stay healthy, they can work, and care for and support their families.
Expanding Medicaid will also help our rural hospitals – many of whom our biggest employers in their communities – and this will help walk them off the brink of financial collapse.
You know, we’re just getting started.
In the coming months, my Administration will work with partners across the state to ensure that people who qualify can enroll and receive the health care they need.
I hope that if you or your family are struggling with medical bills in this complicated health care system, you might explore whether you qualify for Medicaid, known as MaineCare, so that you can receive the coverage you need.
You can enroll by going online, visiting MaineCare at www.maine.gov/mymaineconnection.
That’s w-w-w- dot – M-A-I-N-E- dot- gov- backslash- my- M-A-I-N-E -connection.
When my husband Stan had his medical issues and passed away four years ago, I learned an awful lot about the health care system in Maine.
Then again, we were lucky, you know we had insurance.
But dealing with copays and deductibles and the high cost of prescription drugs is a challenge for everybody, an even greater challenge of course, if you’re not fortunate enough to have health insurance.
Health care coverage should not be a luxury or a privilege reserved for well to do people.
It is a human right. And it’s part of our workforce needs, the fact that people don’t have health insurance to stay healthy and work.
My top priority as governor is to ensure affordable, accessible health care for all Mainers, and every small business, every entrepreneur, every family across the state.
Federal approval and funding for Medicaid expansion brings us one step further in reaching that goal, but I won’t rest until every eligible Maine person is able to access affordable health care.
I am Governor Janet Mills. I thank you for listening.