I was appalled to read about the closing of Western Maine’s Children’s Dental Center (Sun Journal April 29). At the same time that Gov. John Baldacci is raising taxes to pay for Dirigo, a new and expensive program that does little for a few employers, the neglect of MaineCare has had terrible consequences for this area’s neediest people.

The state owes more than $300 million to the MaineCare system. Physicians don’t take many patients who rely on state aid anymore. They know that Maine won’t pay. Now and then, Augusta will scrounge up some money, paying a portion of what it promised to health care providers. No one expects the total to be repaid. Providers who don’t close up their practice, as our dental clinic did, have to make up the difference by increasing their prices on other ordinary Mainers.

Making matters worse, our elected officials are raising taxes on health insurers (1.8 percent on paid claims) to pay for Dirigo, as if insurers won’t pass on those new costs to the people they cover; as if that doesn’t discourage them from paying claims; as if that isn’t another reason for new insurers not to compete in Maine.

In short, Augusta ignores MaineCare, but thinks it’s a good idea to raise the cost of insurance if it will help pay for Dirigo, a plan intended to reduce the cost of insurance.

That is madness.

Dana Coffin, Auburn