Governor Mills and Commissioner Lambrew Denounce 5th Circuit Decision Endangering Health Care for Maine People

Statement

Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Jeanne Lambrew today denounced a decision by the Fifth Circuit Court in Louisiana in the Texas v. United States case challenging the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a two-to-one decision, the court found the ACA's individual mandate unconstitutional and unnecessarily called on the same Judge who decided a year ago to strike down the entire ACA to re-review the case.

While there is no immediate impact on consumers, this decision only extends the needless uncertainty around the fate of the ACA.

If the ACA were fully struck down, it would endanger health care for hundreds of thousands of Maine people -- putting nearly 230,000 Maine people with pre-existing conditions at risk of losing their health insurance, stripping 40,000 people of MaineCare coverage, and eliminating financial assistance for 60,000 people with private HealthCare.gov plans. Additionally, nearly 340,000 Maine people with Medicare would lose preventative benefits like coverage for an annual wellness visit and would be forced to pay more for prescription drugs.

"Washington politicians have launched countless attacks against critical health care coverage that Maine people rely on to see their doctor, receive preventive care, treat illnesses, and afford their medications. While we have made progress in Maine to defend access to health care, this decision by the Fifth Circuit could put Maine peoples' lives at risk," said Governor Mills. "Congress and the courts have subjected millions of Americans to uncertainty and fear over losing their health care for far too long. I urge them to end the attacks and to uphold the Affordable Care Act."

"This poorly justified decision puts at risk reforms that have been embedded in the health care system for nearly a decade," said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. "It's a transparently political attempt to accomplish through the courts what Republican leadership failed to do through the Congress dozens of times: repeal the ACA. Americans have made clear that they support this law and Maine voters overwhelmingly supported the expansion of Medicaid that the ACA made possible."

Despite today's decision, nothing has yet changed. Anyone eligible for MaineCare should still apply, and consumers who have enrolled through HealthCare.gov will not experience any interruption in coverage.

Last year's decision by a Texas federal district judge who declared the entire ACA to be invalid has been widely Maine Hospital Association.

Governor Mills has made expanding access to affordable health care a top priority of her Administration.

On her first day in office, Governor Mills opioid epidemic, and bolstered public health, which can improve affordability of coverage by reducing health problems due to tobacco use and low immunization levels, among other initiatives.

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