Maine Directs Much of Emergency Opioid Money to Treatment
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine has directed most of the first wave of federal emergency money to target the opioid crisis on treatment, similar to other states that didn't expand Medicaid.
An analysis by The Associated Press found states are taking different approaches to spending initial allotments under the 21st Century Cures Act grant program. Seven states that expanded Medicaid under former President Obama's health overhaul directed less to treatment than non-expansion states, partly because Medicaid already covers addiction treatment.
Maine was awarded $1.4 million and devoted 81.9 percent to treatment. Maine ranked 8th for opioid overdose deaths.
Voter-approved Medicaid expansion in Maine is held up amid litigation.
Malory Shaughnessy of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services said expansion could have allowed Maine to spend more of the money on recovery.