Years overdue in some cases, Maine's 39 hospitals are putting pressure on state lawmakers to pay the $484 million owed them for treating Medicaid patients, according to a Portland Press Herald report.
Without the funding, hospitals have warned they will have to cut staff and facility improvement plans, and perhaps borrow money to make ends meet, according to the report.
Currently the state's Medicaid program, MaineCare, faces a $120 million deficit.
The lion's share of Medicaid payments, which subsidize healthcare services for low-income patients, typically falls on the federal government but requires state contributions as well. Maine must pay hospitals its portion — $186 million of the total tab — in order to receive the federal money to make up the difference.
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Without the funding, hospitals have warned they will have to cut staff and facility improvement plans, and perhaps borrow money to make ends meet, according to the report.
Currently the state's Medicaid program, MaineCare, faces a $120 million deficit.
The lion's share of Medicaid payments, which subsidize healthcare services for low-income patients, typically falls on the federal government but requires state contributions as well. Maine must pay hospitals its portion — $186 million of the total tab — in order to receive the federal money to make up the difference.
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