The hospitals had to borrow from banks to cover operatoring expenses and then pay interest on top of that because the state wouldn't pay its bill. I love this state.

Certainly needed relief for the Hospitals. However, I am amazed at the arrogance of our elected officials. The Governor "fulfills a promise made to the hospitals". What exactly did the Governor do to fulfill that promise. Nothing. He use stimulus money borrowed from future generations. Did he have some precognition that the federal government would bail him out as the State short paid the hospitals for years? Not likely. Pure luck. If I were the hospitals officials, I would not count on the rest of the money in 2010. And let us not forget, that in a few years the Hospital debt will return, because the State continues to underpay the Hospitals.

It is equally amazing that the Hospitals waited for years to get paid for what is rightfully theirs, only to find out that there are "transparency" strings attached. More time wasted on ridicules regulations.

Crooks!

What about the charges accrued from now until next year?? Is that going to be paid with the stimulus package of 2012?? There is no mention from Baldacci if the state will pay current bills in a timely fashion. But what does he care, he's not running for governor again, right? If I don't make payments to EMMC for my stay there last year, it will be sent to collections which kills my credit rating. Is Maine's credit rating suffering because of these unpaid bills? I doubt it. So I"m thinking that if I have to go inpatient again, I should ask for a private room and fly in doctors from Europe to have any procedure done because it seems that the more one owes, the better off one is as there appears to be no penalty for anything owed above $100,000,000

WOW! Senator Snowe came through again. Not bad for a Republican. (JUST KIDDING) This is going to be a shot in the arm to m any who are struggling. Bi-partisanship works so well hope it will spread to Washington before it is too late.

I would be embarrased if i was gov who promised this to happen before the last election and was saved by the stimulus monies. It is apparant the hospitals don't trust him anymore, so they will pay credit lines and keep cutting their overhead if they are smart. I hope some smart people start running for legislature and for Gov and just do 1 term and help get another responsible person to run. Having time on your hands should not be the reason to run for legislature.

I would say that the state probably didnt have a choice but to pay the hospitals under the guidelines of the stimulus money and how it could be spent and on what

Oh and by the way the collection agencies are not allowed to call the state for money that the state owes them or to report the state to a credit agency

I agree that the State shouldn't hold money owed however if the hospitals are anything like TAMC in Presque Isle the service (exp. emergancy room) isn't worth paying for. You never get a doctor only P.A. and you wait an hour and a half while they chat about the evening out the night before. What a joke. So in my opinion the CEO of TAMC and his 500,000.00 salery could due with a major overhaul.

The State of Maine finally pays its bills and its fronnt page news. Go figure. The BDN really is becoming the governors newspaper. How about MAINE TO USE STIMULUS MONEY TO PAY OFF HOSPITAL DEBT.

holding back payments hostage based on the premise that each dollar gets a line item on where it will go....unbelievable. This is half way down the slippery slope of the government deciding where any money gets spent (even for private companies). If I'm owed money from some one I expect it to be paid back with NO STRINGS attached. The hospitals need to grow a pair and tell the state to get the money somewhere else where it won't come with conditions. . . ridiculous.

The state of maine,Baldacci ,Finally pays part of its bills to hospitals.Trouble is Baldacci fails to mention the bill is over 500 millon.What about the roads in Maine.they are the worst that they have ever been.I think that Baldacci will go down in history as the one of worst governor ever.

Let's not forget, that the current Governor does not believe this was his problem. According to him, it was all Governor King’s fault. Do you think the Governor envisions himself as the White Knight riding in on his steed to save the day?

Baldacci did NOTHING....washington and generations to come paid this!

ANOTHER (AIG) WAITING TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE AS SOON AS THE NMMC BIG WIGS TAKE THIER RAISE FROM THAT MONEY, THEY WILL HIRE BACK THE STAFF THEY LAID OFF BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T TAKE A CUT IN PAY LIKE THE OTHERS.

"Please Please Please" tell me DECH will NOT be on of the hospitals receiving this money?!? And IF they do please USE it to hire NEW management in that place who happens to have a good solid EDUCATION under them (unlike a few selective ones in there that don't even know how to send out a simple in-house email without having at least a handful of misspelled words in them EVERY time)

This was an obligation from the State to begin with. Is this what the stimulus package was intended to be used for--outstanding obligations? I don't think so. It was to create jobs. People in the medical field are in demand. What about all those people in manufacturing and other industries that have lost their jobs? What is Maine doing to attract business. They have driven manufacturing out of here, now they are working on driving tourism out with the new tax proposals. Perhaps they should focus on bringing industry in and not trying to raise revenue through additional taxation. If people were working and had health insurance, Maine would not have such an obligation to the welfare system and to the hospitals for Maine Care patients. I recently was out of state for a few weeks, and it was quite refreshing. I really have to question why I am still living here.

“This is a good day,” he said in an interview. “This fulfills a promise made to the hospitals to pay them what is owed and help save jobs and create jobs.”

Baldy, you shouldn't have gotten us in the position in the first place. what happens the next time when there is no bailout? Grab your ankles hospitals.

Only a politician would call a press conference invite the reporters to CELEBRATE paying a past due bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i wonder if a % could to the OB dept at teh Blue Hill Hosp to prevent it for shutting down?

The current system of MaineCare rules and regs is what made the past-due bills so bad. Those regs are only a few steps away from Universal Health Care - and we can see a glimpse of what that will be like.

As opposed to the paradise that is the current system of for-profit insurance companies... I sure hope that when I get cancer, some insurance executive makes a bundle by denying me treatment and hiking my deductibles.