On February 16th, Dr. Ted Sussman, Houlton internist and chair of the board of HealthCare for All Maine, gave the third 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?”

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