AUGUSTA – Reaction from citizens is wanted for a proposed Maine health plan, which will serve as a road map for health priorities in the state the next two years.

The first of three statewide public hearings will be at Lewiston-Auburn College, from 11 to 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21. Others will be held in Portland and Brewer on Monday and Tuesday.

The hearings are being held by Gov. John Baldacci’s Health Office and its Advisory Council. Baldacci’s goal is to make Maine the healthiest state in the nation. The plan is a key component of Dirigo Health reform, and will be issued every two years.

Initiatives called for in the proposed plan include:

• “Be Fit for Maine’s Future” – essentially, ways to help citizens avoid disease – including doctors and patients signing contracts on what individuals can do to get healthier.

• Asking that 1 percent of future medical expansions or projects be spent to pay for new public health offices.

• Strengthening the state’s Certificate of Need review to ensure only medical projects that Maine needs, and can afford, win approval.

• Increasing health coverage for the uninsured by 100 percent in DirigoChoice.

To read the draft health plan, go to http://www.dirigohealth.maine.gov/dhsp07c.html.

In addition to the hearings, comments may be submitted to the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance until 5 p.m. Dec. 2. Comments may be mailed to the Office at GOHPF, 15 SHS, Augusta, ME, 04333-0015, or by e-mail: gohpf@maine.gov.

Copy the Story Link