On March 23rd, Dr. Caryl Heaton delivered the last in a series of six “lunch and learn” presentations for state legislators, on the topic “Improving Health Care in Maine: What Can We Do?”

Dr. Heaton is a family physician with a special interest in health inequities. She presented her research and ideas for a system of health care for Maine that would address these inequities.

Almost two-thirds of Maine residents live in rural areas. Rural areas have higher rates of poverty, unemployment and economic distress, with lower rates of health insurance coverage and poorer population health. Fifteen Maine counties have health professional shortages in primary care, mental health and dental health.

“It costs more to deliver health care services in rural areas, in part because rural hospitals and providers need to cover the costs of keeping facilities open,” said Dr. Heaton. “Maine needs a payment system for rural hospitals that supports this ‘standby capacity’ and adequately funds primary and emergency care.”

Dr. Heaton outlined strategies to attract more health care providers to rural Maine. She also proposed a unified state health care program that includes global budgets for hospitals. She states, “A unified state health care program would provide better care to more people for less money, making the system more responsive to the patients it serves, without compromising provider payment.”

A summary of Dr Heaton’s talk can be viewed HERE.
A more detailed handout about rural health disparities, including proposals to address these inequities can be downloaded HERE.

On March 16th, Les Fossel, small businessman and former GOP state legislator, gave the fifth in a series of six talks for state legislators. Sponsored by HealthCare for All Maine, the series is focused on “Improving Health Care in Maine: What Can We Do?”

Les proposed twelve possible steps to move Maine along the path to healthcare for everyone in Maine. Please download a brief summary of Les’ talk HERE. Additional information, including the rationale for all twelve steps can be viewed and downloaded HERE.

One of the twelve steps is already in the works. Senator Craig Hickman has introduced LD590, a resolution to amend the Maine Constitution to establish the right to health care. The Maine AllCare board has voted to support the resolution. Hearings will be held in the near future.

The next Lunch and Learn is scheduled for Thursday, March 23, from 12-1 pm in the Legislative Conference Room 121 of the Maine State House. Dr. Caryl Heaton will speak about health care inequities.

On February 16th, Dr. Ted Sussman, Houlton internist and chair of the board of HealthCare for All Maine, gave the third of a series of six talks for state legislators, sponsored by HealthCare for All Maine. The series is focused on “Improving Health Care in Maine: What Can We Do?”

Dr Sussman outlined the health care access problems facing rural Maine residents. Twenty-eight percent of rural Maine hospitals are at risk of closing, including four at immediate risk. Fifteen out of sixteen Maine counties have health professional shortages in primary care, mental health, and dental health. “Having health insurance that pays fees for ER visits, laboratory tests, or treatments is of little value if there is no Emergency Department, laboratory or treatment capability available in the community for the resident to use,” said Dr. Sussman.

“We need to pay rural hospitals and providers more,” he said. “This includes funding ‘standby capacity’ so that rural hospitals and providers can cover the costs to keep necessary facilities open and providers available. By reducing administrative complexity and costs, a publicly funded, universal health care system would free up the necessary funding to keep rural healthcare available and sustainable.”

View or download the information from Dr. Sussman’s talk HERE.

Dr. Sussman and Dr. Caryl Heaton of Blue Hill will continue the discussion about rural health care issues in a later session.

The next session in the series is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, from 12-1 pm in the Legislative Council Chamber, Room 334 of the Maine State House. Dr. Bill Clark will speak about Mainers’ health care needs.

On February 9, Dr. Henk Goorhuis, emergency room physician and member of the boards of Maine AllCare and HealthCare for All Maine, gave the second of a series of six talks sponsored by HealthCare for All Maine at Lunch and Learn conference for Maine legislators. The series is focused on “Improving Health Care in Maine: What Can We Do?”

Dr. Goorhuis discussed how our health care system affects Maine business, proposing “A Better Model for Healthcare in Maine”. Fifteen to 20 legislators and several members of the public attended the talk. The room was full of energy and interest, with a Q&A that generated a lively discussion. You can download the summary of Dr. Goorhuis’ talk HERE

The next Lunch and Learn is scheduled for Thursday, February 16, from 12-1 pm in the Legislative Council Chamber, Room 334 of the Maine State House. Dr. Ted Sussman will speak about the issues in rural health care. Download the flyer HERE.

For more information, please contact us at healthcareforallmaine@gmail.com

On February 2, Dr. Geoff Gratwick, a former state senator from Bangor and prior chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, gave the first of a series of six talks sponsored by HealthCare for All Maine at Lunch and Learn conference for Maine legislators. The series is focused on “Improving Health Care in Maine: What Can We Do?”

The key points of Gratwick’s talk: The U.S. health care delivery system is sick – it is focused on profit, not patients. It is too expensive, wasteful, and confusing for patients and providers alike.

Maine spends 23-25% of its total state economic product on health care, the U.S. 18% and Canada and the E.U. 10-12%. The U.S. ranks somewhere between 21st and 35th in terms of population health.

“We are not getting our money’s worth,” said Dr. Gratwick. “And the obstacles to change are political, not economic or medical.”

View a copy of the 2-page handout accompanying Dr. Gratwick’s talk HERE.

The next Lunch and Learn is scheduled for Thursday, February 9, from 12-1 pm in the Legislative Council Chamber, Room 334 of the Maine State House. Dr. Henk Goorhuis will speak about the impacts of our health care system on businesses and municipalities.

For more information, please contact us at healthcareforallmaine@gmail.com