I attended the Lewiston Dirigo Health meeting on May 24.

I commend Gov. Baldacci for his courage in making the health care crisis a top priority, as do most affected parties in the issue: hospitals, doctors and medical professionals (providers), insurance companies (carriers), employers and employees.

They all applaud the governor, but then they also say, “but, we have a concern.”

Maine has a top-notch health care delivery system staffed by doctors who must be trained out of state and recruited to work here. Will they be forced to leave?

Ten years ago we had about 15 health insurance companies, then the Legislature took creative action and drove them out. Now there are three, but one has most of the business.

Also, as a result of this same action, prices have gone through the roof compared to even New Hampshire where premiums for a 45-year-old are about 50 percent of those in Maine.

I’m saying Maine caused this problem.

What is the crisis?

Cost. And the number of uninsured, many of them children.

Many young immortals refuse to pay the outrageous premiums and buy cars instead. Many workers need, but cannot afford, the outrageous group rates.

Let insurers come back. Slash costs and insure as many people as possible, then worry about managing the hospitals.

Something needs to be done now, but Dirigo is complicated and not every item is an emergency.

Take action on the crisis and take our time on the rest.

Rep. Michael A. Vaughan, Durham