Two Bills to be heard Monday, April 6

Two bills 771 is involved in; LD 1059, A Resolve to Enhance Health Care for Direct Care Workers, and LD 1078, An Act To Strengthen Sustainable Long-term Supportive Services for Maine Citizens, are to be heard on Monday, April 6, at the State House. LD 1059 will be heard in the Insurance and Financial Services Committee room, Room 427, in the State House, at 9:30 am. LD 1078 will be heard in the Department of Health and Human Services Committee room, Room 209, in the Cross Office Building, at 1 pm. 771 needs its members to turn out for these two bills, showing solidarity and support for fellow direct care workers. I strongly urge members to attend. I understand there may be work conflicts, but if you're not working Monday morning or afternoon, please join us at the State House. You do not need to speak, just be in the room to show support for our consumers and fellow workers. LD 1059 is moving right along. We had a meeting on Tuesday, March 31st, with DHHS Commissioner Brenda Harvey, Insurance Superintendent Mila Kofman, Trish Riley from the Governor's office, House Speaker Hannah Pingree and Senate President Libby Mitchell. Many legislative supporters were also present. Many of the people from the Direct Care Worker Coalition who have been working on gaining health insurance for direct care workers have told me that this is the furthest we've come. We were talking with policy makers who can make the changes happen that we need to gain health insurance. Many have told me that this sort of meeting has not happened before. We've also gained support from the House Speaker and Senate President. We got positive feedback from Commissioner Harvey, Superintendent Kofman and Trish Riley. Commissioner Harvey said she was going to look further into a plan that the State of Montana has implemented, insuring over 900 of its direct care workers starting January 2009. We got the wheels rolling with this meeting. We need to keep them rolling. We cannot afford to let this drop. That is why I'm asking my colleagues in 771 to turn out for these hearings on Monday. This is so important. LD 1059 will need revision as it moves forward. The current wording will be changed as we hear back from Commissioner Harvey. If you can attend and need more information, please send me an email: helen.hnsn@gmail.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you.