Dirigo Health Care Funding . . . LD 2247 & LD1687

This is an article published in the Kennebec Journal on Friday, March 14th. http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4866109.html It is about Dirigo Health Care and the ways to fund it. If this LD2247 passes, maybe it will open the door for LD1687, the bill to change Dirigo to let agencies employing more than 50 direct care workers gain health insurance. LD1687 also allows direct care workers without health care coverage who work an average of 10 hours or more per week to participate in the DirigoChoice health insurance plan. LD1687 will allow multiple long-term care employers to contribute monthly premium assistance to their direct care employees that are eligible to enroll in Dirigo as an individual. Currently, LD1687 seems to be dead, because of the budget problems. The Direct Care Worker Coalition is meeting again on Monday, March 17th, to draw up a strategy as to their next move on LD1687. There is a work session in the Insurance and Financial Services Committee pertaining to LD1687 and LD2247 on Tuesday, March 18th at 1pm in Room 427 of the State House.