126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1546 LR 2143(09)
An Act To Strengthen Maine's Hospitals, Increase Access to Health Care and Provide for a New Spirits Contract
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment " " to Original Bill
Sponsor: Sen. Mason of Androscoggin
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
FY 2013-14 FY 2014-15 Projections  FY 2015-16 Projections  FY 2016-17
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $689,851 $3,835,565 $3,778,658 ($5,226,166)
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $689,851 $3,835,565 $3,778,658 ($5,226,166)
Federal Expenditures Fund ($92,152,589) ($325,198,201) ($341,132,913) ($348,902,215)
Other Special Revenue Funds ($4,507,607) ($4,635,029) ($4,764,278) ($4,897,404)
Revenue
Other Special Revenue Funds ($4,507,607) ($4,635,029) ($4,764,278) ($4,897,404)
Legislative Cost/Study
This amendment adds a study group to examine the issue of Medicaid expansion.  The general operating expenses of this study group are projected to be $8,000 in fiscal year 2013-14.  The Legislature's proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $10,000 in fiscal year 2014-15 for legislative studies.  Whether the amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature.  The Legislature can absorb the additional costs of providing staff services to the study group within exisiting budgeted resources.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This amendment eliminates Parts C, D, E and F from the bill that were related to the MaineCare expansion, which eliminates the net General Fund deappropriations in those Parts of $689,851 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $3,835,565 in fiscal year 2014-15.  The elimination of those parts would also reduce allocations for both the Federal Expenditures Fund and Other Special Revenue Funds by eliminating those allocations from the bill.  The reduction of Federal Expenditures Fund allocations total $92,152,589 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $325,198,201 in fiscal year 2014-15.  The reduction of Other Special Revenue Funds allocations total $4,507,607 in fiscal year 2013-14 and $4,635,029 in fiscal year 2014-15.  
The Department of Health and Human Services can absorb the additional costs of the Commissioner of Health and Human Services' involvement as a member of the study group.