Voters reject health care funding
Anna Kelemen
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Local News
On November 4th 2008, Maine voters supported Ballot Initiative 1. In doing so, Mainers rejected "parts of the new law that change the method of funding Maine's Dirigo Health Program through charging health insurance companies a fixed fee on paid claims and adding a tax to malt liquor, wine and soft drinks." The funding source, which has now been rejected, was the recommendation of a bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission. Because it was voted down, current funding for the Dirigo Health Agency will remain in effect until the Legislature decides how to continue funding for the program.
In 2003, the Dirigo Health Agency was created by the Maine Legislature in order to provide affordable health care coverage to "eligible small employers including the self-employed, their employees and dependents, and individuals on a voluntary basis," according to its website. It was created as part of the Dirigo Health Reform Legislation. The law was intended as a comprehensive reform of Maine's health care system and included the creation of Dirigo Choice, Maine Quality Forum, and a State Health Plan as well as measures to reduce health care costs.
The initiative was, at first, widely celebrated as a universal coverage plan. Since its inception in 2003, other states have followed Maine's lead in working towards more comprehensive coverage for citizens. "Dirigo Health Reform is a work in progress requiring providers, business, insurers, labor, consumers and government to work together," the website states.
DirigoChoice is a health care coverage program available to Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees, as well as the self-employed. The program has been criticized for failing to provide coverage to as many previously uninsured Maine residents as initially thought possible. While the program first projected that it could provide coverage to 31,000, only 8,600 new Maine residents became ensured during the program's first twelve months.
In 2003, the Dirigo Health Agency was created by the Maine Legislature in order to provide affordable health care coverage to "eligible small employers including the self-employed, their employees and dependents, and individuals on a voluntary basis," according to its website. It was created as part of the Dirigo Health Reform Legislation. The law was intended as a comprehensive reform of Maine's health care system and included the creation of Dirigo Choice, Maine Quality Forum, and a State Health Plan as well as measures to reduce health care costs.
The initiative was, at first, widely celebrated as a universal coverage plan. Since its inception in 2003, other states have followed Maine's lead in working towards more comprehensive coverage for citizens. "Dirigo Health Reform is a work in progress requiring providers, business, insurers, labor, consumers and government to work together," the website states.
DirigoChoice is a health care coverage program available to Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees, as well as the self-employed. The program has been criticized for failing to provide coverage to as many previously uninsured Maine residents as initially thought possible. While the program first projected that it could provide coverage to 31,000, only 8,600 new Maine residents became ensured during the program's first twelve months.
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