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In
addition to our direct services to consumers,
we are committed to thoughtful analysis of health
care in Maine through research, policy analysis
and, most importantly, consumer input. Our research
is non-partisan and focused on the needs, preferences,
and interests of health care consumers in Maine.
Click on one of the projects below to read a
description. (2001)
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Kids
Quality and Access Project:
Improving Quality and Access to Maine's Child Health
Care Programs
This
project is funded by the Nathan
Cummings Foundation and the Open
Society Institute in an effort to monitor
and improve access to and the quality of health care
services provided to children enrolled in Maine's
Children's Health Insurance Programs (Cub
Care and MaineCare).
The Project has established "Listening Posts" in five
areas of the state including Portland, Augusta and
Waterville, Damariscotta, and Rumford. The Listening
Posts provides parents with children enrolled in MaineCare
and Cub Care a place to share their experiences in
accessing health care services for their kids and
also issues regarding the quality of those services.
Information gained from Listening Posts is shared
with statewide steering and policy committees in an
effort to address issues of concern and propose policy
options aimed at improving access and quality.
Pediatricians, Family Practitioners, Dentists and
social service staff will also participate, providing
information regarding their experiences with the programs.
Eventually alliances between consumers of health care
service providers will be formed in an effort to promote
realistic strategies and policy options for improved
quality and access.
If you would like to participate in this project or
if you are interested in seeing its findings when
published, please
Contact Us.
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Communities
and Consumers in Charge:
Getting Consumers
involved in MaineHealth's Project to Provide Health
Care to the Uninsured
With support from the Jesse
B. Cox Charitable Trust, Consumers for
Affordable Health Care is working with MaineHealth,
the parent holding company of Maine Medical Center,
in the development of a program that begins to address
the health care needs of low-income uninsured citizens.
The hospital proposal creates a model in Cumberland,
Lincoln and Kennebec counties that will result in
an organized, coordinated health care program for
many of Maine's uninsured and underinsured.
CAHC Foundation's role is to assist in the implementation
of the program that will be recognized as consumer
friendly and meets the community health care needs
of the uninsured, with the belief that the success
of the program is dependent on consumer involvement
early on. CAHC Foundation is involving consumers in
the development of the program by providing assistance
in:
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Building community support for the proposed programs;
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Designing and implementing a community health and
health-related needs assessment;
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Designing a survey of residents in the three hospital
catchment areas; and
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Outreach to eligible individuals and families.
The
program intends to screen uninsured and underinsured
individuals to determine their eligibility for program
services. Each eligible individual would receive an
insurance card similar to an insurance card which
they would present to a participating provider for
services. The services would be provided free-of-charge
or with an income-based co pay. The hospitals intend
to include prescription drugs in the package of benefits
provided. They would like to track care provided to
individuals and coordinate care with various participating
providers.
For more information about this project, please Contact
Us.
Check out the chapter on Hospital
Care in our Guide to Health Care for Maine People
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The
Maine Small Business Health Insurance Project:
Involving Businesses in the Creating Solutions
The Maine Small Business Health Insurance Project
is funded by the Access Project of the Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation and the Bingham
Program . It is jointly sponsored by the Maine
Center for Economic Policy and Consumers
for Affordable Health Care Foundation. The purpose
of the project is to involve more small businesses
in the development of public policy to improve health
care coverage in Maine.
The first phase of the project included the release
of the report At Risk: Small Business Health Coverage
in Maine. It is the result of a survey completed by
398 small businesses in Maine regarding the health
insurance coverage they offer employees. Survey results
indicate that although small business owners want
to provide coverage to their employees and feel it
is important as a matter of principle, many are finding
it more difficult, if not impossible to do so. The
report offers detailed information regarding the level
of health insurance coverage provided and describes
some policy options being discussed at both the state
and national level.
The second phase of the project involves bringing
small business owners together in an effort to explore
realistic policy options they could support in an
effort to make health care coverage more available
to employees and their families. Small businesses
are encouraged to contact Consumers for Affordable
Health Care Foundation and participate in this important
initiative.
Read
At Risk: Small Business Health Coverage in Maine,
from the Maine Center for Economic Policy website.
Please Contact
Us to find out more about the Small Business
Project.
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