Maine Receives Federal Approval To Expand Medicaid to 11,500 Childless Adults
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Sept. 13 announced that Maine has received a federal waiver to expand health insurance coverage to about 11,500 low-income, childless adults, the Associated Press reports. Under the waiver, Maine residents who do not have children and have annual incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level, or $8,860 per year for an individual, will be eligible for coverage under Maine Care, the state's Medicaid program, beginning Oct. 1. Federal rules typically exclude childless adults unless they are disabled. Maine officials hope to expand the eligibility requirements for childless adults to 125% of the poverty level after one year (Sharp, Associated Press, 9/13). Thompson said, "This approval means health coverage for thousands of uninsured Maine residents. By giving Maine and other states more flexibility to provide care to low-income citizens, we are helping many more people across the country gain access to quality health care" (HHS release, 9/13).
Federal Grants to Maine Programs
Thompson on Sept. 13 also announced the following federal grants:
- $267,205 to the Maine Board of Emergency Medical Services to purchase several automated external defibrillators and train emergency medical technicians in rural areas on their use;
- $153,799 to the state Department of Human Services to help rural hospitals obtain better computers, software and technical assistance;
- $256,387 to expand the University of Southern Maine's satellite nursing program at Lewiston-Auburn College; and
- $193,293 to help the state halt the spread of the West Nile virus (Associated Press, 9/13).
