AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Maine's roughly 100 nursing homes will get an additional $13.1 million in funding this year.
Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced Thursday that his administration is moving forward with a plan that doesn't require the Legislature's approval after weeks of wrangling with Democrats over funding for the facilities.
The funds are on top of $12.3 million in combined state and federal dollars the Legislature approved last session. LePage said that wasn't enough and urged lawmakers to return to reconsider a $5 million bill to boost their funding.
Since then, two nursing homes have announced that they will close due to financial problems.
LePage's new plan uses $4.6 million in savings from the Department of Health and Human Services and $8.5 in federal dollars to aid the facilities.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story indicated that nursing homes would receive $14 million, with $9.5 million of that from federal funds. The correct figure is a total of $13.1 million, with $8.5 million of that from federal funds.