Dirigo Health has helped people obtain coverage, and helped others keep it.

A recent U.S. Census Bureau report has been misconstrued by opponents of Dirigo Health. Not surprising, perhaps, because even positive news about Maine’s health care elicits constant hostile attacks from these groups.

Dirigo has withstood assaults in the courts, administrative proceedings and the Legislature. While opponents have been unable to kill Dirigo using these means, they’ve been beating up the program in the media. This time they make false interpretations of the recent Census data, even while noting the Census Bureau itself said that such a read of their data would yield inaccuracies.

Here’s what the Census Bureau actually said: Maine’s rate of uninsured has held steady, despite national increases in the rate of people without health insurance. Using the Census Bureau method of using two-year periods when making comparisons, from 2003 to 2005, Maine had an average uninsured rate of 10.4 percent. Maine remains tied for the second-lowest rate of uninsured in the country. These figures are notable in that Maine is bucking the national trend. The national average rate of uninsured is 15.7 percent. Maine’s rate remained steady despite 10,000 Maine adults living near poverty losing Medicaid coverage due to federal rules.

The Census Bureau cautioned against using only single year data to compare numbers in its report, because such numbers do not yield a correct picture of the health care situation in a small state. Sadly, recent news articles published data provided in a Maine Heritage Policy Center release, and quoted the inaccurate comparisons as fact.

As we read the most recent numbers on health insurance, it’s important to remember why Dirigo was created.

Hard-working Maine people deserve affordable, accessible, high-quality health care. Mainers have been squeezed out of private insurance coverage; businesses have found insurance too costly to offer employees; and many people with insurance are paying more and afraid of losing coverage. And all of us could receive better quality care at a more affordable price, whether you have insurance or not.

This is a national problem that Gov. Baldacci has had the courage to address. Realizing that the underlying issues are cost, transparency, quality and accessibility, a comprehensive solution was necessary, and that is how Dirigo Health reform was born. It’s an ambitious endeavor, to be sure, but an important one.

Opponents of Dirigo continue to focus their attacks on DirigoChoice, the insurance product under Dirigo Health. With a full year-and-a-half of offering insurance, Dirigo has covered 18,000 lives and more than 2,300 businesses. People who did not have access to affordable preventive care receive it through Dirigo. Having this quality affordable coverage has saved more than a few lives.

Don’t believe the negative spin created by opponents. Dirigo has helped people obtain coverage, and helped others keep it. Dirigo has also cut costs for all Mainers, whether you are a subscriber to DirigoChoice or not. An independent assessment of Dirigo measured $78 million in savings so far that is attributed directly to Dirigo Health. Hospitals have also been partners by establishing voluntary cost containment measures, and DirigoChoice has created more competition in the insurance market.

Dirigo is changing to better meet the needs of more working Maine families and businesses. That’s why the governor created the Blue Ribbon Commission on Dirigo Health, and that’s why we all need to work together on this reform.

The answers aren’t coming from the White House, or from the Maine Heritage Policy Center or any group attempting to tear Dirigo down. Attacking Dirigo is easy if you expect an overnight miracle, but we Mainers know that real reform takes time and effort. Dirigo is worthwhile, and it’s meaningful reform.

Rep. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston, serves on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs committees.