(The Center Square) — Maine Republicans have rolled out a plan to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program as they ramp up criticism of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills over her response to the Trump administration’s ongoing fraud investigation.
The proposal calls for an independent review of the MaineCare program to determine if the state has adequate capacity to detect waste, fraud, and abuse, as well as regular financial audits and enforcement of federal work requirements.
Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart said a key requirement of the legislation would “ensure that able-bodied working adults without dependents have to do something.”
“Whether that’s going to school, volunteering in their community or searching for work, they have to do something,” the Presque Isle Republican said in remarks Tuesday.
Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government. In Maine, the federal government covers most of MaineCare’s $5.4 billion in annual spending, with the state contributing about $1.5 billion, according to federal data.
A January report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General found nearly 100 Medicaid payments for autistic rehabilitative and community support services did not fully comply with federal and state requirements. The federal watchdog directed the state to repay at least $28.7 million for the federal share of the payments.
Last week, the Mills administration sent a 47-page response to questions from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services about the $45 million in “improper” payments flagged by the audit.
In a video, Mills — who is running for U.S. Senate — referred to CMS Director Mehmet Oz as a “former TV doctor” and accused the Trump administration of using the allegations of fraud to “punish” Democratic-led states. She defended the state’s efforts to detect fraud in the program and MaineCare’s improper payment error rate is 2.4%, which is less than half the national average.
“Look, this is a thinly disguised attempt to attack and intimidate those who stand up to the president’s abuses of power,” Mills said.
But House Minority Leader Billy “Bob” Faulkingham criticized the governor’s response as “insulting” and reiterated calls for the Mills administration to open its books to federal watchdogs. He said the Trump administration isn’t targeting blue states.
“The federal government is coming after fraud. Period,” Faulkingham, a Winter Hill Republican, said in remarks Tuesday. “This isn’t because it’s Maine, this isn’t because it’s a blue state, this isn’t because it’s Janet Mills. That’s just a victimhood defense.”
