State Legislation/Regulation
LD 1687, “An Act to Increase Health Insurance Coverage for Front-line Direct Care Workers Providing Long-term Care”
M4A was part of a large coalition in support of this legislation.
Summary: This bill allows providers of long-term care services with more than 50 employees to participate in the DirigoChoice health insurance plan. The bill allows uninsured direct care workers who work an average of 10 or more hours per week to participate in the DirigoChoice health insurance plan. The bill limits the costs to Dirigo Health for subsidies to direct care workers in the targeted DirigoChoice plan to $400,000. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration project for long-term care providers who provide health insurance coverage to their full-time and part-time employees. The bill limits the funding of the demonstration project to no more than $500,000.
Sponsor: President Beth Edmonds
Cosponsors: Representatives Beaudoin; Campbell; Connor; Miller; Perry; Pingree and Senator Marrache.
Committee: Health and Human Services
Action: This bill was referred to the Health and Human Services Committee on March 29, 2007. A Hearing was held on May 7, 2007 and a Work Session was held on May 17, 2007. Carry Over was requested on Friday, May 25, 2007, meaning that this may be considered again in the second or special session of the 123rd Legislature. The House and Senate approved the carry over on June 21st. The Health and Human Services Committee also sent a letter to the Insurance and Financial Services Committee asking them to consider the Dirigo-related provisions in the bill.