High Court Won’t Hear Maine’s Appeal Over Medicaid Cuts
Gov. Paul LePage's effort to cut more than 6,000 low-income young adults from the state’s Medicaid rolls died Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his administration's appeal of a lower court ruling. The justices' refusal means LePage must continue providing health coverage to poor 19- and 20-year-olds until at least 2019 to maintain federal funding for the state's Medicaid program.
Maine Public Broadcasting:
Supreme Court Rebuffs LePage Effort To Throw Young Adults Off Medicaid
In declining to hear his appeal, the Supreme Court has ended the LePage administration's attempt to pull Medicaid coverage for about 6,500 19- and 20-year olds in Maine. It also marks the end of a long-running dispute between the Republican LePage and Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, a Democrat, who refused to represent the state because she believes the appeal had no merit. (Leary, 6/8)
Bangor Daily News:
Supreme Court Denies LePage’s Effort To Cut Young Adults From MaineCare
Maine’s effort to cut more than 6,000 low-income young adults from the state’s Medicaid rolls suffered a death blow Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state’s case. By declining to hear the case, the court left intact an appeals court ruling that upheld the federal government’s decision to reject the state’s plan to cut 19- and 20-year-olds from MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program. The state began covering that population in the early 1990s, but Republican Gov. Paul LePage sought to end the coverage during his first term as governor. However, the federal government said the Affordable Care Act required the state to continue offering coverage. (Moretto, 6/8)
Reuters:
U.S. Justices Reject Maine Challenge To Medicaid Funding
The U.S Supreme Court on Monday rejected the state of Maine's bid to revive its plan to trim some young people from its Medicaid rolls. By declining to hear the case, the court left intact an appeals court ruling that upheld the federal government's decision to reject the state's plan to cut 19- and 20-year-olds from Medicaid. Medicaid is a government health insurance program for low-income and disabled people. (Hurley, 6/8)
The Associated Press:
High Court Won't Hear Maine Appeal Over Medicaid Cuts
The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it would stay out of a dispute between Gov. Paul LePage and the federal government over whether Maine can eliminate Medicaid coverage for thousands of low-income young adults. The justices' refusal to hear the case means LePage's administration must adhere to a lower court's ruling to continue providing health coverage to about 6,500 19- and 20-year olds until at least 2019 in order to maintain federal funding for the program. (Durkin, 6/8)
