ME hospitals say DHHS budget ignores debt owed them

As Maine lawmakers grapple with the governor's proposal to close a more than $120 million shortfall in the Department of Health and Human Services budget for the next six months, the funding gap could be twice as big. The state owes hospitals $125 million through the remainder of this fiscal year, debt that has accumulated since 2009 as hospitals continue to serve Medicaid patients without being fully reimbursed by the state.