Maine Gov., Health Dept. Acting Commissioner Facing Class Action Lawsuit

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A proposed class action lawsuit was filed on June 29 against Maine’s governor Paul R. LePage and Acting Commissioner of Department of Health and Human Services Ricker Hamilton over the July 1-effective shut down of the state’s public assistance programs the case says serve more than 450,000 elderly, disabled, and juvenile residents.

The 18-page complaint alleges the defendants’ decision to shut down the vital programs, apart from being unlawful, “is causing and will cause severe and irreparable harm” to proposed class members.

The proposed class includes all recipients of and applicants for Medicaid and/or Maine’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in the state who, on or after July 1, 2017, “have not or will not receive a timely decision on their application for benefits,” or for those who have been found eligible for, yet will not receive, assistance when due.