By David Farmer,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Gov. John Baldacci has appointed 20 members to a new Blue Ribbon Commission on Dirigo Health.

The commission was created by executive order in May after two priority pieces of legislation concerning his signature Dirigo Health Reform failed in the Legislature.

Members of the commission include many of the central figures in the negotiations that dominated the last days of the legislative session as well as some critics of the behind-closed-door talks that ultimately failed to craft a compromise that could win passage.

The two bills – L.D. 1845 and L.D. 1935 – would have allowed DirigoChoice, the insurance component of the reform package, to become self-insured and would have settled a lawsuit over the amount of savings that can be attributed to Dirigo. The superintendent of insurance puts the amount at $43.7 million, which insurance companies must pay to the state; the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Hospital Association and the Maine Association of Health Plans sued, disputing the amount. The settlement in L.D. 1935 would have resulted in a payment of $23 million and also created a blue ribbon commission.

Dr. Sandra Featherman, who was the president of the University of New England from 1995 until last week, will be the chairwoman of the commission.

Other members are: David Brenerman, assistant vice president of government and public affairs, UnumProvident Corp., Portland; Joe Ditre, executive director, Consumers for Affordable Health Care, Augusta; Joan Donahue, owner, Hummingbird Home Care, Warren; Carol Epstein, owner, Epstein Commercial Real Estate, Bangor; Kevin Gildart, vice president, Bath Iron Works, Bath; Tammy Greaton, director, Maine People’s Alliance, Portland; Merton Henry, attorney, Jensen, Baird, Gardner and Henry, Portland; Mike Keenan, president, Local S6, Bath; Dr. Robert McAfee, chairman, Dirigo Health Board of Directors, Portland; Steven Michaud, president, Maine Hospital Association, Augusta; Chip Morrison, president, Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, Lewiston and member, Advisory Council, Maine Quality Forum; Katherine Pelletreau, executive director, Maine Association of Health Plans, Yarmouth; Ed Pineau, president, Pineau Policy Associates Inc., Manchester; Keith Small, director, Down East Business Alliance, Milbridge; Gordon Smith, executive vice president, Maine Medical Association, Manchester; Dr. Peter Toussaint, physician, New Canada; Barbara Trafton, real estate agent, Keller Williams Realty, Auburn; Mary Anne Turowski, SEIU field representative, Maine State Employees Association, Augusta; and Trish Riley, director, Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance, Augusta, ex officio.

The commission is tasked with making recommendations on how to fund the program and for improving its reach.

“DirigoChoice is working for over 15,400 Maine workers and families, and 2,000 businesses,” Baldacci said. “Maine is one of only seven states in the country that saw a decrease in the rate of uninsured. We can do more.”

The commission is expected to report back to the governor in December.

“With the valuable experience gained in the first year of Dirigo, we need to continue our work together with the Legislature, to build on the foundation we have laid,” Baldacci said.