Dirigo Health Plan Information Forums in Hancock and Washington Counties

ELLSWORTH - The Maine Small Business Alliance is offering a series of local forums on the new Dirigo Health Plan for small business owners and the state’s Dirigo Health Reform Initiative. In collaboration with the Down East Microenterprise Network, six forums will be held throughout Washington and Hancock counties. Staff from the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance will provide detailed information on the program. The public is invited to attend and participate in question/answer sessions.

Deborah Cook, Executive Director of the Maine Small Business Alliance in Augusta, will lead each forum. Cook has twenty years of experience working with organizational development and public policy issues with Maine’s non-profit and small business communities. The Maine Small Business Alliance (MSBA) is a non-partisan, non-profit membership organization advocating for sustainable solutions that support and strengthen a vibrant small business economy for Maine.

Signed into law in June 2003, the Dirigo Health Reform Act intends to improve Maine's health care system and includes three inter-related approaches: a new health plan to achieve universal access to health coverage; new and improved systems to control health care costs; and initiatives to ensure the highest quality of care statewide. The Dirigo Health Plan offers discounts up to 100% of monthly costs, 100% coverage for preventative services, reduced deductibles, standard drug co-pays, minimal co-pays for hospital care, and incentives for health improvement. Health providers will be paid market rates. Family income level will determine the deductible and discounts to employees’ premiums.

Businesses and the self-employed can begin joining Dirigo Health on October 1, and individuals can begin joining in March 2005. State officials announced this week that the program will provide subsidies of up to 80 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums, an increase of 20% from the original plan. Officials expect that most enrollees will qualify for premium discounts of 20% - 40%.

Keith Small, Director of the Downeast Business Alliance (DBA) division of the Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA), is pleased to help support these forums. DBA is partnering with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Small Business Development Center at Eastern Maine Development Corp. to provide business skills training, technical assistance and follow-up assistance to microenterprise owners and staff in Washington and Hancock counties.  Their collaborative program called Down East Microenterprise Network received a $165,000 operations grant this month from the Dept. of Economic and Community Development. Says Small, "The goal of the Down East Microenterprise Network is to help small businesses grow and create jobs. We expect these forums to be of great interest to our local business community." 

Please call MSBA at 622-6500 with any questions regarding the forums. For information about the Down East Microenterprise Network, contact Sarah Nugent at WHCA - 546-7544 ext. 3350. For more information on the Dirigo Health Plan, visit www.dirigohealth.maine.gov.  or the MSBA website: www.msb-alliance.org.

DIRIGO HEALTH PUBLIC FORUM SCHEDULE

1. Monday, September 20, 10-11:30 am, Bucksport Town Office Council Chambers.

2. Monday, September 20, 2:30-4 pm, Ellsworth City Hall, Council Chambers.

3. Tuesday, September 21, 8:30-10 am, Univ. of Maine at Machias Science Building Room 102.  

4. Tuesday, September 21, 1-2:30 pm, Lubec Municipal Building.

5. Tuesday, September 21, 6:30-8 pm, Shead High School Music Room.  

6. Wednesday, September 22, 9:30-11 am, Washington County Community College Assembly Room. 

 DIRIGO HEALTH PRESS INTERVIEWS SCHEDULE

1. Monday, September 20, 11:30 am-noon, Bucksport Town Office Council Chambers.

2. Monday, September 20, 4-4:30 pm, Ellsworth City Hall, Council Chambers.

3. Tuesday, September 21, 10-10:30 am, Univ. of Maine at Machias Science Building Room 102.  

4. Tuesday, September 21, 2:30-3 pm, Lubec Municipal Building.

5. Tuesday, September 21, 8-8:30 pm, Shead High School Music Room.  

6. Wednesday, September 22, 11-11:30 am, Washington County Community College Assembly Room. 

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