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Living without a car in Maine can be really, really hard. We're down to one car (our truck finally collapsed this week), and the coordinating of appointments and pickups and dropoffs has been nightmarish.
For some, however, it's not just an inconvenience, but a health issue. That's the case for those Mainers that Adrienne Washington, The Monitor's rural reporter, has been speaking with over the past few weeks.
The people Adrienne has been talking to have insurance through MaineCare, the state's version of Medicaid, and don't have reliable access to transportation. MaineCare is supposed to provide coverage for rides to and from certain medical appointments.
But the people Adrienne spoke to say they're missing appointments because drivers don't show up, or arrive too late. The director of one cancer center in Ellsworth estimates that she's made 100 trips back and forth to Bangor to pick up patients stranded at their appointments.
Those missed appointments can have real impacts on people recovering from cancer, or dealing with chronic health issues. This is one arena where we really do need to be able to get there from here.
— Kate |
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Patients, advocates say MaineCare transportation company is failing to live up to its agreement
A transportation broker company with a pending contract to handle all MaineCare rides throughout the state is facing complaints from vulnerable riders who say they’re being left at their appointments and being declined for rides without being provided required documentation as to the reason behind the failures.
Read this story by Adrienne Washington.
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In Addison, a question over what is 'natural': A plan to remove tide gates in Addison to restore a dying salt marsh is prompting residents to ask what it means to restore a habitat to its “natural” state. Read this story by Kate Cough, co-published with the Portland Press Herald. |
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It's tough to build things in America. The Energy Permitting Reform Act could change that: A new supported by Independent Sen. Angus King is dividing environmental groups. Read this story by Kate Cough.
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Maine faces lawsuit for failing to adopt EV mandates, the latest state-level climate court case: Experts say a narrow focus on specific state laws and emissions sectors shows promise as a tactic in climate litigation, with wins for plaintiffs in comparable cases in Hawaii, Montana and Massachusetts. Read this story by Annie Ropeik, co-published with Energy News Network.
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Hearing on Machias dike decision delayed again: After 15 years of studies, hearings, and back-and-forth plans, the public still awaits a decision from Maine’s Department of Transportation about how it will fix the problem — a dike that keeps crumbling and flood waters that keep coming. Read this story by Joyce Kryszak.
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Use of antipsychotics in Maine nursing homes climbs
After an initial crackdown and decline, the rate of the powerful medications given to nursing home residents has ticked back up in recent years.
Read this story by Rose Lundy |
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Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom.
The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support. |
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