AUGUSTA — Lawmakers are set to receive a briefing on the $40 million MaineCare rides program after reports of missed rides and thousands of complaints.
The Portland Press Herald reports that Tuesday’s progress report could determine whether legislative leaders push to cancel any contracts with private companies that provide transportation to and from medical appointments for low-income and disabled residents.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said earlier this month that the number of complaints it has received about its MaineCare transportation contractors was far below what had actually been reported by the companies.
The department said companies that transport MaineCare patients to non-emergency appointments reported 266 complaints in August. But the written log, obtained by the newspaper under public records law, falls far below the number of people who complained, may actually number in the thousands.
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