AUGUSTA (Jan 3): This just in: Mainebiz reports today that a federal audit asserts that the State of Maine (DHHS) overcharged the Medicaid program by $44 million in 2002 and 2003. The federal government is asking Maine to pay back $29.7 million for its share of the alleged over billing.
Last month we discussed the $20 million apparently lost forever by a bad investment directed by our state treasurer.
The state is admitting a $95 million deficit going into this legislative session. Add in the $20M lost investment and the $29M claimed by the feds and you have a $144,000,000 problem. Anyone want to bet that we hit $200 million by the start of summer?
And how is our state going to work its way out of the hole? Well let’s start by taxing unsuspecting out-of-state pilots and shaking down out-of-state retailers for gift cards not used within two years of initial issue. Now that's a plan. -H-
