The Issue in Brief:
Maine Legislature has begun the debate on the “Majority Budget” vs. the “Minority Budget.” We urge you to help SUPPORT the Majority Budget and OPPOSE the Minority Budget. Here is what the decision could mean for Maine people:

1. The Majority Budget restores services cut from MaineCare and preserves Dirigo Health;
2. The Minority Budget cuts Dirigo Health funding and delays critical MaineCare expansions.

How You Can Help:
Call or email your Legislators TODAY (1/29/04), and ask them to SUPPORT the Majority Budget!

1. To leave a voicemail message for Senators and Representatives:
   • To leave a message for Senators call: 1-800-423-6900;
   • To leave a message for Representatives call: 1-800-423-2900;
   • Forgot your town’s Senator or Representative? Click on, http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/legislature.html#legislators;
   • Sample message: “Hello, my name is ______ and I live in the town of ______. This message is for Senator/Representative _______. Please SUPPORT the MAJORITY Budget. Protect Dirigo Health and restore needed services to MaineCare. Thank you.”
2. To email Senators and Representatives:
   • To find your town’s Senator or Representative and to find their email address, click on, http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/legislature.html#legislators;
   • Sample message: “Hello, my name is ______ and I live in the town of ______. This message is for Senator/Representative _______. Please SUPPORT the MAJORITY Budget. Protect Dirigo Health and restore needed services to MaineCare. Thank you.”

More Details:

Dirigo Health:
Dirigo Health fixes Maine's long-term cost problems and controls rising health care costs! The minority budget would take $20 million from Dirigo Health for a one-time budget fix. That would make our long-term cost problems worse!

MaineCare:
MaineCare provides value for our State dollar by drawing down Federal matching dollars at a 2 to 1 rate. For each state dollar, Maine receives two federal dollars. That makes sense. MaineCare State match under Dirigo Health will come from employer contributions.

The MAJORITY Budget:

1. Does not raid the money set aside for the Dirigo Health Program and MaineCare expansions;
2. Does not increase co- payments in the Drugs for the Elderly Program;
3. Does not eliminate elective surgeries, like gastric bypass in MaineCare;
4. Does not put an annual limit on therapies in MaineCare;
5. Does not have a transportation co-payments in MaineCare;
6. Restores a substantial portion of the cuts to the mental health community; and

• These MaineCare services are restored largely by getting more federal Medicaid dollars by making a very small assessment on hospitals, most of which they will get back.

The MINORITY Budget:

1. Raids nearly 40% of Dirigo Health's start up funding ($20 million) and delays - for over a year - the expansions in MaineCare that are part of Dirigo Health;
2. While it does restore many of the same MaineCare cuts as the Majority Budget, it does this by taking the dollars that would be used to provide health care for other needy people under the Dirigo Health Program.

Thank you for your help!

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