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Health Care
Health Care for America Now!
The Maine People's Alliance is proud to be leading the Health Care for America Now campaign here in Maine and to be partnering with thousands of activists across the nation to work towards universal care.
With a new administration in Washington, we have a chance to remake our nation's health care system and ensure affordable, quality care for everyone in America. Maine will be a crucial battleground in the fight for universal care; the stature and ideological position of Senators Snowe and Collins mean they will have an important role in the creation and passage of any health care reform and we want to make sure they hear from everyday Mainers from all over the state who need real change.
The principles we support for universal care include the creation of a public plan that will provide a better alternative to private, for-profit insurance and will be there to ensure quality, affordable health care coverage no matter what... more information
Universal Single-Payer Health Care!
MPA believes that ultimately, the only way to cover everyone at the least cost is to establish a universal, single-payer health care system at both the state and federal level. This has been a key goal since our founding, almost 30 years ago.
Universal, single-payer health care is a system in which hospitals, doctors and other health care providers maintain their autonomy from the government, but instead of being paid by for-profit insurance companies, are reimbursed for their services by a single, government provider, comparable to the way Medicare works now. This kind of arrangement, similar to systems in place in almost every other industrialized country in the world, would dramatically decrease administrative costs, eliminate the profit motive in health care, allow for better assessment of treatments and quality of care, and cover everyone in the state (or country).
During the 124th Legislative Session, MPA successfully lobbied for a resolution passed by the Maine Legislature calling on the federal government to pass H.R. 676, a bill that would create a national, universal single-payer health care system... more information
Tell us how you've been affected by a lack of affordable, quality health insurance?
In addition to accessibility and affordability of health care, MPA cares about making sure Mainers receive quality care that leads to good health care outcomes.
MPA is part of a statewide effort called Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q). AF4Q is a team of people and organizations working to help Maine communities improve in the quality of health care. AF4Q works to improve health care by strengthening the relationship between physicians and patients, promoting an evidence-based system of care, and fostering relationships among stakeholders that will ultimately transform the culture of health care in Maine... more information
Tell us how you've been affected by a lack of affordable, quality health insurance?
Telling our stories is powerful. Sharing our stories shows others having similar difficulties that they are not alone. If your life has been impacted by a lack of affordable, quality health insurance, please tell us your story.
Join us in the campaign for universal health care
MPA members meet regularly to plan our healthcare campaign. If you'd like to get involved, call Ali at 797-0967.
Allies and Partners
MPA works with a number of allied groups to accomplish our healthcare goals. Please visit our Allies and Partners page for a list of links.
MPA's Health Care work
2009: MPA helps to pass LD 1205, An Act To Establish a Health Care Bill of Rights, which increases transparency and accountability in Maine's health care market.
2008: With MPA's support,
LD 1072, a bill to update the Mathematica single-payer study passes.
2007: MPA helped to defeat legislation to create high-risk health care pools, which would have put the burden of caring for the desperately ill on the state and increased insurance company profits.
2006: Former MPA Executive Director Tammy Greaton appointed to Blue Ribbon Commission on Dirigo Health by Governor Baldacci.
2006: Conducted study and released Fox in the Henhouse? Anthem's role as the provider of DirigoChoice health insurance, which uncovered problems in accessing information about DirigoChoice insurance from Anthem-approved agents.
2005: Passed LD725, requiring Maine hospitals to disclose annually certain financial information regarding any entity that is owned, controlled or affiliated with the hospital.
2004: Released Citizen Report Card: Maine Hospitals and Consumer Price Accessibility analyzing hospital compliance with Maine law requiring posting of costs of top 50 procedures.
2002-2004: Created and grew "Maine Small Businesses for Universal Single-Payer Health Care" to more than 1600 members and got several members placed on key health care policy making committees.
2003: Played instrumental role in the passage of the Dirigo Health Plan, an important step in the movement for universal health care for Maine.
2003: MPA named one of 27 members on Governor Baldacci’s Health Action Team intended to design a universal health care plan.