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Health Care
Access to affordable, quality health care is part of my vision for investing in Maine people and creating a fair and stable business environment. All Maine people deserve quality affordable health care. My goal is to make Maine the healthiest state in the nation. I created the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance and established the comprehensive Dirigo Health Reform to address the needs of Maine families, workers and businesses.
- Dirigo Health, my Administration's landmark health care reform, provides affordable, accessible, quality health care through 3 strategies: (i) supporting MaineCare for those least able to afford coverage; (ii) building a subsidized health product, DirigoChoice, for those over income for MaineCare but below 300% of the federal poverty level (up to $32,490 for an individual or $66,150 for a family of four); and (iii) and investing in public health, market reforms, and cost containment strategies to assure those who now have coverage can continue to afford it.
- As of February 2009, more than 29,251 people have been covered through the DirigoChoice and its coverage of MaineCare parents.
- Maine is one of seven states to reduce its uninsured population between 2000 and 2004. According to America’s Health Rankings, Maine ranked 19th in uninsured in 2003; we rank 5th in 2008.
- $159 million of savings has been achieved in Maine's health care system.
- The John F. Kennedy School of Government and partners named Dirigo one of the Top 18 Government Innovations for 2006.
- Dirigo provides a platform that has positioned Maine to work with the federal government on national health care reform.
- The Advisory Council on Health Systems Development annually reports to the Legislature on the factors driving health care costs in Maine and steps we can take to reduce those costs. They have documented up to $400M in potential savings – for instance, Emergency Department use in Maine is 30% higher than the national average, and 75% is avoidable, with costs of up to $115 million; while reducing variation in the use of high cost outpatient services such as duplicative lab tests and high cost imaging could save millions more – and are at work to reduce costly inefficiency.
- We increased transparency of medical prices, hospital quality and financial data, and financial information for health insurance companies in Maine.
- We led the effort that created the first of its kind tri-state state administered Medicaid supplemental drug rebate pool to help control the costs of prescription drugs.
- When the federal Medicare Part D program fell short of its promise to provide prescription drug coverage for Maine seniors, we provided assistance and funding to fill the gaps, ensuring Mainers were able to obtain lifesaving medications.
- We were recognized in 2006 by the American Lung Association for having achieved the first ever all-A report card of states on efforts to reduce tobacco use.
- We have encouraged and supported the development of effective and efficient health care delivery systems through collaborative efforts by strengthening the Hospital and Health Care Provider Cooperation Act.
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