AUGUSTA — Senate President Mattie Daughtry is proposing limits on how long some Mainers can receive housing assistance through the state’s General Assistance program in an effort to win Republican support for a plan to balance the state’s budget over the next three months.

Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick. Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald

The Brunswick Democrat’s proposal would, among other things, limit housing vouchers to 12 months within a three-year period under the state’s General Assistance program, which is designed to be a last-resort safety net program but has grown in recent years to provide ongoing rental support.

Republicans have pushed for such a limit, and it could provide the support needed to pass a supplemental budget as an emergency measure and allow the state to maintain payments to medical providers serving patients through MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.

Lawmakers were expected to make another attempt to pass a supplemental budget Tuesday afternoon.

The proposed General Assistance limits, which would not apply to emergency shelters or temporary housing, are not as strict as those originally proposed by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and supported by House Republicans. Mills originally proposed limiting housing assistance through GA to three months within a 12-month period.

Daughtry’s amendment would fund an independent audit to look for “for fraud, waste and abuse” in the MaineCare program, while also requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval for a 1.95% cost of living increase to direct care workers. The audit would be due on Jan. 5.

Neither Daughtry nor Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, responded to questions Tuesday about whether the proposal had the support of Republican leaders or rank-and-file lawmakers.

House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, said in a text message that the proposal was “moving in the right direction.” But he did not endorse it or comment on how it was being received by his caucus.

House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, did not respond to a request for comment. Last week, Fecteau said in a radio interview that he also proposed GA reforms to Republicans, but he has not answered questions about that proposal.

Lawmakers have until the end of Tuesday to pass an emergency supplemental budget to avoid further curtailments to payments to health care providers serving MaineCare patients.

Nearly all of the $121 million supplemental budget is dedicated to closing a $118 million deficit in MaineCare costs through June, the end of the current fiscal year. Another $2 million is proposed to fight spruce budworm infestations threatening Maine forests.

Even if a deal is reached Tuesday, the delay in adopting a supplemental budget means the state will have to reduce payments to medical providers in the short term, according to state officials. Passage of a budget Tuesday would mean reimbursements would be restored going forward.

Beginning Wednesday, the state will only pay 70% of prospective interim payments to critical access hospitals, while withholding payments for all hospital claims greater than $50,000 and payments to large retail pharmacies, large durable medical equipment providers, and out-of-state providers of hospital, ambulance, pharmacy and durable medical equipment services.

Critical access hospitals are smaller, isolated, rural community hospitals designated by the federal government to receive higher reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid, while prospective interim payments provide a steady source of revenue so these facilities can pay fixed expenses throughout the year.

Maine has about 17 critical access hospitals, all of which are located in rural areas, including Bridgton, Calais, Dover-Foxcroft, Greenville, Houlton, Millinocket and Rumford, according to the Maine Hospital Association.

A DHHS spokesperson said that providers will still see curtailed payments beginning Wednesday even if lawmakers pass the emergency budget, because there’s a one week lag time in reimbursements. Enacting an emergency budget would avoid further curtailments, so that providers would receive their full reimbursements beginning next week.

Republicans have also insisted on adding work requirements for MaineCare before they will support the supplemental budget. But Democrats have balked at that proposal since, unlike the GA reforms, work requirements have not been subject to a public hearing.

This story will be updated. 

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