$1.4B
Spent on MaineCare every year.
1-in-4
State budget dollars spent on MaineCare.
$800M
For workforce-ready adults without dependants.
400K
Mainers enrolled, up from 270K before expansion.
Without proper checks and balances on who is receiving tax dollars through MaineCare, money will keep going to the wrong places. Maine taxpayers deserve accountability and transparency.
Maine law allows citizens to request a state agency review a particular rule by submitting at least 150 verified signatures from Maine voters. Within 60 days of receiving a valid petition, the stage agency being petitioned must initiate its rulemaking process.
Part of that includes a public hearing and 30-day window where anyone can submit comments on the proposed rule changes.
The agency must summarize the comments, weigh the proposed changes, and act on them within 120 days of the comment period closing.
On June 23, Lead Maine submitted more than 1,500 signatures for each rule change petition to DHHS to require a higher standard of accountability to taxpayer funds in MaineCare:
Require On-Site Inspections
Any provider billing MaineCare must be verified in person before enrolling in the program and can be inspected without warning during any fraud or billing investigation. No phone calls or emails as a substitute.
Crack Down on Payment Fraud
Strengthen the state’s ability to audit and recover improper payments to providers who are billing MaineCare for services that were never delivered.