Republican Maine Gov. Paul LePage sent a letter to legislative leadership regarding implementation and funding of Medicaid expansion.
The letter is dated Dec. 11, roughly one month after voters approved Medicaid expansion in Maine via referendum. In the letter, Mr. LePage said implementation and funding of the initiative must meet various principles. These include no tax increases on businesses and residents in the state, as well as no dipping into the state's Budget Stabilization Fund or this year's money that will be directed to the fund. "Diversion of these funds would drain a key budget stability resource and only provide funding on a one-time basis," he wrote.
Other principles outlined by Mr. LePage include "no use of other one-time funding mechanisms or budget gimmicks" as well as "full funding of our Section 21 and 29 waitlists and no reduction of services or funding for our elderly or disabled populations and prioritization of our fiscal obligations."
Mr. LePage also stipulated in his letter that Medicaid expansion implementation and funding must be based on Maine Department of Health and Human Services cost estimates. Previously, he said he would not implement Medicaid expansion without full funding from lawmakers.
Read the governor's full letter here.