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Maine was one of the first states in the U.S. to take a bold step in adopting a statewide plan to achieve universal coverage. As other states design their own approaches and Maine’s efforts evolve, MeHAF recognizes that much work remains to achieve a high-functioning health care system for all Maine people. Thus, MeHAF continues to support and stimulate efforts to build a collective understanding of the myriad challenges, such as the structural, financial, political economy, and workforce issues. Through working with stakeholders and engaging Maine people, we hope to achieve a rational balance of equitable access to care as well as allocation of our health resources.
The MeHAF approach to advancing health reform emphasizes promoting public conversation and informed decision-making. Efforts have focused on grantmaking, research and evaluation, and convening and discussion.
Convening and Consensus-Building
In April 2007, MeHAF sponsored a day-long statewide forum, “Advancing Health Reform in Maine.” This forum brought together more than 200 leaders in Maine to consider research commissioned for the event, learn about national and state-level trends in health reform, and collectively address the question, “Where do we go from here”?
As part of the forum MeHAF funded three separate and coordinated research studies. Two of the reports were prepared by national experts at the Urban Institute, a Washington, DC-based non-profit policy research organization. The reports, "Health Insurance Coverage in Maine" and "Costs of Caring for Uninsured People in Maine" examined who are the uninsured people in Maine and how their profile has changed, as well as defining what it costs and how those costs are financed. The third research effort, conducted by Critical Insights, a public opinion research firm, involved ten focus groups throughout the State. The groups were organized to learn about Maine people's views regarding our current health system and preferences for health reform. Findings were presented in a report entitled "Perspectives of Health Care and Insurance Coverage in Maine".
MeHAF is committeed to assuring the voices of Maine people are heard and reflected in the process of implementing health reform. legislation In 2005, MeHAF provided $500,000 for the statewide “Tough Choices Town Meeting” convened by the
Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance (GOHPF). This public engagement strategy solicited input from Maine people, asking them to help design a health care system that would be responsive to peoples’ needs and reflect our collective values about balancing cost, quality and access to care. GOHPF contracted with a nationally recognized organization, America-Speaks, to conduct the statewide town hall meeting. Through the use of videoconference and high speed computer linkages, over 300 Maine people met for a day-long discussion and decision-making process in two locations (Biddeford and Orono). A summary of the discussions and the results of the decision making are available at the
GOHPF website.
Research and Evaluation
MeHAF believes that credible, objective data is critical to framing sound public policy. From the Foundation’s beginnings, MeHAF has invested in research to inform the debate about how Maine might reform our health system and expand affordable access to high quality health care.
In 2001, MeHAF issued a
Primer on Health Care Coverage in Maine, and used this information in a series of public forums to educate and engage Maine people around how MeHAF, as a new foundation, should use its resources to expand access.
In 2007 MeHAF funded three separate and coordinated research studies to help inform policymaking. Two of the reports were prepared by national experts at the Urban Institute, a Washington, DC-based non-profit policy research organization. The reports, “
Health Insurance Coverage in Maine” and “
Costs of Caring for Uninsured People in Maine” examined who are the uninsured people in Maine and how their profile has changed, as well as defining what it costs and how those costs are financed. The third research effort, conducted by Critical Insights, a public opinion research firm, involved ten focus groups throughout the State. The groups were organized to learn about Maine people’s views regarding our current health system and preferences for health reform. Findings were presented in a report entitled “
Perspectives of Health Care and Insurance Coverage in Maine.”
Grantmaking
In 2003 and 2005, MeHAF issued invitational funding opportunities as part of an initiative called the “Consensus Campaign.” The 2003 process process, provided grants to advocacy organizations to educate policy makers and the media, monitor the actions of administrative agencies, organize those people who are affected and engage them in the policy process, and build or sustain coalitions needed to advance health reform in Maine during Dirigo’s policy development and rulemaking phase. Seven organizations received $300,000 in funding through the first grants round in 2003.
In 2005, MeHAF funded three organizations through a second invitational funding opportunity. These grants supported and expanded targeted advocacy by building on the accomplishments of the initial phase of the Consensus Campaign. To enhance sound policy decisions, the Foundation issued an RFP to support efforts to prevent the erosion of private or public health coverage, assure coverage is comprehensive and meets the needs of uninsured and underserved people in Maine, improve quality health care, promote prevention and incorporate public health principles in health care benefits and delivery; and integrate current public health systems into state health planning and other systems of care. The total funding awarded through these three grants was $290,138.
Additional Information
For more information on MeHAF's activities related to health reform, please contact Barbara Leonard at (207) 620-8266, ext. 102. |