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The supplemental budget passed on March 31, 2008 and was signed into law by Governor Baldacci. It has been the major focus of this Second Session of the 123rd Legislature and the major focus of our legislative work at AARP Maine. It's clear that when the dust finally settled and all the rallies and calls to action were over, AARP Maine helped to restore a significant part of the cuts to Elders across the state.

This budget made cuts of about $170 million in state spending and balanced the budget without raising new taxes or fees. While much of the budget was unanimously accepted by both parties but in the end, there were two reports with major differences in MaineCare cuts and benefits/cuts to state workers.

Here is a summary:

CUTS Made in This Budget
Elder Services
• $1.3 million by eliminating the Elder Services Health Housing Communities program.
• $500,000 to Area Agencies on Aging which was used for local match, administration & training.
• $381,000 for home-based care for elderly.
• $312,000 by eliminating assessments in the homemaker program.
• $171,364 cut to training programs for family caregivers in the Alzheimer’s program.

MaineCare Services
• $3.5 million cut from childless adults program (non-CATS) by requiring greater use of generic drugs with prior authority for medically necessary drugs.
• $825,000 cut from the durable medical goods and supplies
• $232,000 cut from podiatric services
• Corresponding loss of federal matching funds which were tied to these funds with a 2:1 match

Funds Restored (from original budget proposal)
Elder Services
• $2 million restored for consumer directed home based care.
• $321,426 restored to Adult Day health care.
• $816,826 restored for Homemaker services
• $562,727 restored for Independent Living for Seniors

MaineCare Services
• $3.5 million restored by rejecting proposed elimination of pharmacy benefit to all low income childless adults on MaineCare. Generates additional 6.26 in federal funds.
• $8.3 million Restored by rejecting further reductions in enrollment caps lowering participation in the MaineCare from 19,500 to 12,500 low income people—25% are between the ages of 50-64. Generates additional $14.5 million in federal funds.
• $232,915 restored by rejecting proposal to charge $10, co-pay for low-income to for doctor and hospital visits.

Other cuts were made by a Curtailment Order by the Governor, including:

FY’08 Curtailment Cuts (not restored)
• $80,357 cut from Adult day health
• $42,841 cut from Alzheimer’s training
• $26,680 cut from Home Care for Maine
• $33,785 cut from AAAs
• $62,500 cut from homemaker assessments
• $475,800 cut from Health Housing Communities

Curtailment Cuts (restored)
• $175,000 Homemaker Services
• $140,682 Independent Living for Seniors
• $381,386 Home Based Care
• Continues monthly SSI payments for elderly and disabled legal immigrants. (Average age is 65). Affects about 30 refugees and legal immigrants.