LEWISTON — State Sen. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, has been named the Senate chair of two newly formed legislative groups to address health insurance exchanges and long-term care facilities.

The Maine Health Exchange Advisory Committee will make recommendations for improving the health insurance exchanges that will begin operations later this year as part of the federal Affordable Care Act. The committee will be instrumental in ensuring that the Affordable Care Act works as intended and makes quality health care coverage more accessible and more affordable for Mainers.

The second group, the Commission to Study Long Term Care Facilities, will examine how well prepared the state’s long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living centers, are to face increasing numbers of seniors needing care. The commission will focus on funding, staffing, and finding efficiencies in the system.

The Long Term Care Facilities Commission will report back its findings in early December of this year, while the Health Exchange Advisory Committee will issue a preliminary report this December, and a final report by Nov. 30, 2014.

Craven represents Senate District 16, which consists of the city of Lewiston. She is chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee and serves on the Government Oversight Committee.


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