Maine Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion Initiative; Governor Says No Action Unless The Legislature Fully Funds It

On November 7, 2017, Maine voters approved a ballot measure to expand Medicaid to low-income non-disabled, childless adults between ages 18 and 64. An estimated 70,000 to 89,000 people could qualify. However, on November 8, 2017, Maine Governor Paul R. LePage said his administration will not implement the Medicaid expansion until it has been fully funded by the Legislature at the level recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Further, he said he will not support increasing taxes, borrowing from the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, or reducing existing Medicaid services. Under Maine . . .