Legislators seek details on health plan

AUGUSTA – With the end of the year’s session drawing closer, Maine legislators resume work Tuesday on Gov. John Baldacci’s plan to ensure all Mainers get health coverage.

The 15-member select committee reviewing the legislation is scheduled to hear details Tuesday of how the state Medicaid agency, MaineCare, will be integrated into Dirigo Health, the heart of a new universal health care system.

Majority Democrats say they see progress in the select committee’s work, although they acknowledge some difficult issues remain to be settled.

Republicans said they need assurances on federal funding before they can commit to the plan.

Senate Majority Leader Sharon Treat D-Farmingdale said she sees strong support for expanded access to health coverage for small businesses, and for premium subsidies for Mainers earning less than 300 percent of federal poverty levels.

Among other items that appear to be drawing support, Treat said, are increased public disclosure of health care pricing and reduced paperwork to cut costs.

Treat listed other proposals as “challenging,” including a 4.1 percent assessment to be paid by private health insurers and a voluntary 3 percent limit on underwriting gains for insurers.

“Nobody said health care reform would be easy, but we all agree that it must be done,” said House Majority Leader John Richardson, D-Brunswick. “We are getting it done.”

Republicans on the health care committee, saying they don’t want to take anything for granted, sent a letter Friday to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson asking him to expedite a review of the Medicaid provisions in the Dirigo Health proposal.

GOP Sen. Karl Turner of Cumberland and Rep. Kevin Glynn of South Portland questioned the legality of using voluntary payments from private employers as a match for federal funds to purchase health insurance.

“If the federal government does not agree with the direction of Governor Baldacci’s proposal, it will leave a half a billion dollar hole in Maine’s health care system,” said Glynn.

“Shouldn’t we ask the folks writing the check to the state of Maine if the federal match will be approved before enacting the Dirigo Plan?” said Glynn.

Concerns about health care drew about 100 people to a public forum in Lewiston during the Memorial Day weekend. Several speakers at Saturday’s meeting at the Multi-Purpose Center said they wanted the state to move quickly.

But Dr. David Stuchiner, director of emergency services at Central Maine Medical Center, called the proposed plan “a system of rationing and closing hospitals.”

As lawmakers return to the State House on Tuesday, a group of doctors, nurses, religious leaders and consumer activists plan to be on hand to announce its support for Dirigo Health.

The Health Care for Maine People coalition is urging lawmakers to move quickly to enact the legislation.