Maine Should Continue Health Care Reform Efforts After Favorable Court Decision, Editorial Says

Maine can become a "national example for making health care more affordable," given a recent U.S. District Court decision that the Healthy Maine prescription drug program did not illegally expand Medicaid, the Portland Press Herald states in an editorial (Portland Press Herald, 2/27). In the Feb. 25 decision, a federal judge ruled that HHS had the authority to grant Maine a waiver to use its Medicaid program to provide drug discounts to uninsured, non-Medicaid-eligible individuals with annual incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America had sued to block the program (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 2/26). The Press Herald states that given the court decision, "[t]here is momentum now" for health care reform, and the state "should not stop with this victory." The editorial details a few current initiatives, including an "innovative bill" in the state House of Representatives that would use Medicaid funds to reduce health insurance costs for small businesses and an effort to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income, childless uninsured adults. The editorial also notes that the Maine Rx program has had "success ... in the courts" and would "complement" the Healthy Maine drug program (Portland Press Herald, 2/27). PhRMA has challenged the Maine Rx program, which has not yet been implemented but would allow the state to negotiate discounts for 325,000 residents who lack drug coverage. The case is still pending in the U.S. Supreme Court (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/10/01). The Press Herald concludes, "[T]hese programs make Maine a leader in providing health care to its citizens, an effort that should continue" (Portland Press Herald, 2/27).