AcademyHealth Stateside - 05/11/2005  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
 NEW Profile in Coverage: Maine's Dirigo Program
 “Pay or Play” Law passes in Maryland
 Implications of the New Federal Bankruptcy Law on Health Consumers
 Congress Passes Federal Budget Resolution with $10 Billion in Cuts to Medicaid
 Annual Research Meeting: State Health Research and Policy Interest Group
 Registration Now Open for SCI Summer Meeting
 Coming Soon from SCI
 Reports of Interest

NEW Profile in Coverage: Maine's Dirigo Program

Maine’s comprehensive health care reform initiative, Dirigo (latin for “to lead”), set the goal of ensuring universal access to health coverage by 2009.  As of April 1, 2005, more than five thousand members (employees of 400 small businesses and 1,200 individuals) enrolled in DirigoChoice. On May 2nd, Maine Governor John Baldacci (D) announced that Dirigo Health will now offer coverage to families earning up to 200% FPL, thereby allowing an additional 10,000 parents to enroll in the program. In this new Profile in Coverage, SCI talks with Trish Riley, director of the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance, about Dirigo.