The Maine Health Access Foundation Inc., an independent private nonprofit statewide foundation created in Augusta as the result of the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has scheduled several health forums around the state.

Co-sponsored by the Maine Community Foundation, the public sessions will be held in January and February in Dedham, Augusta, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland and Presque Isle.

The Maine Health Access Foundation is funded by an endowment from proceeds of the sale of the nonprofit Blue Cross to the for-profit Anthem.

Maine’s largest new private health care foundation has hired Dr. Wendy Wolf as its executive director, unveiled a draft primer on access to health care coverage in Maine, and announced the regional forums to hear about concerns relating to access to health care in the state.

The foundation also has outlined plans to provide more than $2 million in grant funding to improve access to health care.

“The trustees have been working diligently over the past several months to set up the organizational infrastructure of our new foundation, hire our executive director, and begin our examination of how the foundation can strategically improve access to health care in Maine,” said Warren Kessler, the foundation’s president.

“Our mission is to promote affordable and timely access to comprehensive quality health care for every Maine resident,” he said.

“Over the last six months, the foundation has gathered information about health care coverage in Maine,” explained Dr. Wolf. “This important information is presented in a draft booklet, titled “A Primer on Health Care Coverage in Maine,” which examines six key questions and provides basic facts.

“Our document is modeled after a national primer on Americans without health insurance, published by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured,” she said.

The Maine Health Access Foundation will use the draft primer to stimulate and focus discussions during the six regional forums held across the State.

“The purpose of the forums is to hear about people’s perceptions, experiences, and concerns about access to health care in Maine, as well as to gather ideas about realistic solutions for improving access,” noted Dr. Wolf.

The forums, each to be held 5-7 p.m., are scheduled for:

. Jan. 7, University of New England, Westbrook College Campus, Blewett Hall, Room 6, Portland.

. Jan. 10, Bates College, Chase Lounge, Lewiston.

. Jan. 14, Lucerne Inn, Overlook Room, Bar Harbor Road, Dedham.

. Jan. 24, University of New England, Biddeford, St. Francis Room.

. Jan. 29, University of Maine at Presque Isle, Allagash Room.

. Feb. 7, Augusta Civic Center, Fort Western Room.

The foundation encourages interested those who are not able to attend a forum to submit their experiences and ideas about access to health care in Maine in writing to: Maine Health Access Foundation, P.O. Box 289, Augusta 04332.

For information, call 633-4629.