Maine Supreme Court rejects LePage appeal to delay Medicaid expansion

A high court ruled Thursday that Gov. Paul LePage must file a Maine Medicaid expansion plan, shutting down a “piecemeal appeal” submitted by LePage in late June.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruling issued Thursday did not address questions in the original lawsuit about funding for Maine Medicaid expansion efforts. It instead focused on the core of LePage’s appeal, which asked to delay sending an expansion plan to the federal government until the legal questions in the earlier Superior Court ruling were resolved.

“There are substantial unresolved issues surrounding the petitioners’ appeal…and it is clear from the limited record before us that those issues must be resolved before we can consider the matter on the merits,” the ruling reads.

A Maine Superior Court justice ordered LePage and his administration to submit a plan in June, but his administration appealed the ruling to the Supreme Judicial Court, saying they did not have to file a plan during the appeal process.

The original lawsuit from advocate group Maine Equal Justice Partners stems from a missed April 4 deadline to file an expansion plan with the federal government. In the midst of legal battles, another deadline was missed—more than 70,000 newly eligible Maine residents were supposed to be able to apply for Medicaid on July 2.

Gov. LePage has argued a Maine Medicaid expansion plan can’t be submitted until legislators approve an appropriate source of funding for the state’s portion of the expansion efforts. Advocates have argued the state’s “rainy day” surplus funds, which hit $175.8 million this year, could provide more than enough to sustain the program until a more permanent solution is found.

LePage vetoed a bill in July that would have provided $60 million for initial expansion efforts, and conservative legislators upheld the veto in an 85-59 vote.

Implementation of the expansion would funnel more than $500 million into state coffers, which would cover 90 percent of expansion costs.

Want to know why Medicaid expansion is so important for traveling healthcare professionals? Check out our guide.