In 2002, Maine received HRSA SPG funds to provide the technical, analytic, and organizational support needed to evaluate several health reform proposals. The data collected under this grant include a household survey to develop a profile of the uninsured, survey of businesses on trends in the marketplace, and focus groups of consumers.

In 2003, the Dirigo Health Reform Act passed. This comprehensive reform package authorizes Medicaid expansions and the creation of a state-sponsored program with sliding scale premium subsidies for low- and moderate-income working families. The new insurance product, DirigoChoice, began enrollment in 2005. The Act also mandates an ongoing state planning process and creates commissions and agencies.

In 2005, Maine received a HRSA pilot planning project grant to further refine and improve the Dirigo Health Reform. Specially, the grant will allow Maine to increase employer participation in DirigoChoice by testing changes in the benefit package, subsidy, and a new marketing program. In addition, Maine will undertake new cost containment strategies.

Learn more about the Dirigo program.

Application
Not available online

Original Application, April 2002

Interim Report, July 2003

Final Report, February 2006

2007 State Health Plan

The State of Maine's Health: A Regional Comparison, August 2005

Health Insurance Coverage Among Maine Residents: The Results of a Household Survey, May 2003

Commission to Study Maine's Hospitals: Report to the Legislature, February 2005

Tough Choices in Health Care, May 2005

Bowe, T. "DirigoChoice Member Survey: A Snapshot of the Program's Early Adopters," University of Southern Maine, August 2005.  

Rosenthal, J. and C. Pernice. "Dirigo Health Reeform Act: Addressing Health Care Costs, Quality, and Access in Maine," National Academy for State Health Policy, June 2004.

Rosenthal, J. and C. Pernice. "Designing Maine's DirigoChoice Benefit Plan,"National Academy for State Health Policy, December 2004.

State Coverage Initiatives, Profile in Coverage: Maine Dirigo, May 2005.