Group to help uninsured in 3 Maine counties get health care

PORTLAND – A group of health care organizations has created a new program aimed at easing medical costs for uninsured residents in three Maine counties.

The program, called CarePartners, offers $12 million in managed health care and pharmaceutical coverage to about 5,000 people who can’t get insurance but are not eligible for government programs.

Founded by Maine Medical Center’s parent company, Mercy Hospital, Martin’s Point Health Center, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and other health care groups, the program is based on physicians who donate their services, said David Howe, the president and chief medical officer of Martin’s Point.

“Over time, we believe that this will lead to better health and, ultimately, lower the cost of health care to the community,” he said.

Patients pay $10 and have cards they can use at pharmacies identifying them as members of CarePartners. Residents from Cumberland, Kennebec and Lincoln counties are eligible. By coordinating the free care that hospitals and doctors already offer, the program will offer patients better, more regular care, said Warren Kessler, the program’s director.

“We think that we can increase the health status of these folks,” he said. “We think we can provide much better medical care at the same or potentially reduced costs, and we’ll be tracking that.”

The program estimates about 12 percent of Maine residents are uninsured. Lincoln County has the highest rate, with 18 percent, Kennebec County has a rate of 14 percent and Cumberland County has a rate of 10 percent.