Health Care

Bill would prevent employers from using their private religious views to deny women contraceptive coverage Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is cosponsoring a bill that would reverse the dangerous Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case. The decision allows corporations to claim religious views as a reason to deny women coverage for contraception and other forms of reproductive… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that for-profit corporations cannot be required to provide contraceptive coverage in insurance to employees if it is against the religious beliefs of the owners. “I’m extremely disappointed that the court has held the power of corporations over the rights of women… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement in response to Governor LePage's veto of Medicaid expansion in Maine: The Affordable Care Act was designed so that some of our lowest income neighbors would be covered by Medicaid, which would be nearly entirely paid for by the federal government. Many of those people don't get subsidies to buy health insurance and now,… Read more »

Consumers who don't complete process of signing up by today's deadline will get additional time to complete the application On the last day of the official enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree says millions of previously uninsured Americans now have health care coverage and signups in Maine have surpassed expectations by over 50%. “From… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement today as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the cases of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporation v. Sebelius. "These are landmark cases and if the Court rules the wrong way, it could represent a serious threat to a woman's right to make decisions about her health care.… Read more »

In Maine 15,000 seniors have saved nearly $30 million on prescription drugs thanks to ACA On the 4th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today the law has not only allowed millions of Americans access to health care, but it has also lowered prescription drug prices for seniors and people with disabilities. "In Maine… Read more »

Calls vote "irresponsible" Congresswoman Chellie Pingree criticized Republican leadership in the House today as they held the 50th vote to repeal or roll back provisions of the Affordable Care Act. "We should be debating the important issues facing the economy like the minimum wage or tax breaks that companies use to send jobsoverseas, and instead we find ourselves voting on… Read more »

Affordable Care Act was written to allow states to cover millions more under Medicaid On the day that the Maine Legislature is holding a hearing to consider accepting federal funding to expand Medicaid coverage, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said a goal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to cover more low-income Americans through Medicaid, and Maine should accept the federal… Read more »

Letters from federal officials this week confirm Maine would get funding for Medicaid expansion Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today if Maine refuses federal funding for Medicaid expansion, Maine taxpayers would end up supporting coverage in other states. "Federal officials confirmed today what we expected—that if Maine expands Medicaid coverage, the state will… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree says decision will preserve coverage for over 20,000 Maine people "The Obama Administration did the right thing in requiring that coverage be continued for many needy Maine families," Pingree said.  "Especially in this weak economy, now is not the right time to pull the rug out from under people who are struggling to get by." Pingree did,… Read more »