Local 771, Maine Direct Care Workers' Union of MSEA-SEIU

Action Alert! Go to the State House Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Save Maine’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Services (CD-PAS)!

2011-12-12T14:27:00.004-05:00

Action Alert! Go to the State House Wednesday, Dec. 14, to Save Maine’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Services (CD-PAS)! . . . Nearly seven years ago, direct care workers in Maine joined together to speak with a united voice in support of Consumer-Directed Personal Assistant Services (CD-PAS) and the people who count on those services. Unfortunately, all CD-PAS services in Maine are now at risk of elimination. LePage has asked state legislators to officially terminate Maine’s CD-PAS program effective April 1, 2012. Join us at the Maine State House on Wednesday, Dec. 14, to fight back! . . . We are fighting back and standing up for each other and the Maine citizens who count on CD-PAS services. We need your help! On Wednesday, Dec. 14, go to the Maine State House to testify against the Governor’s proposal to cut all state funding for CD-PAS. The hearing will be in the Appropriations Committee hearing room off the State House Hall of Flags. The portion of the hearing about CD-PAS is expected to start in the afternoon or in the evening. Arrive in the afternoon and be prepared to stay into the evening. . . . It’s critical that committee members hear from both CD-PAS workers and the people who use CD-PAS services. Keep your testimony short, under three minutes, and be respectful. Tell the committee who you are and what you do for work. Explain that your work helps Maine people live independently in their own homes. Tell them you take pride in your work even though you don’t get any healthcare, vacation, sick time or retirement. Tell them it’s wrong to leave Maine people who need these services in the lurch. Tell them it’s also wrong to decimate Maine’s personal-care workforce precisely as Maine has one of the oldest populations per capita. Tell them that cutting CD-PAS would push people who use CD-PAS services into more expensive boarding and nursing homes. Yet in his proposal to cut $221 million from Maine DHHS, Gov. LePage proposes de-funding Maine’s CD-PAS program. He has proposed cutting $449,605 from the current year’s CD-PAS budget, and over $2.4 million from the next. His proposals would entirely defund the program, leaving in the lurch every Maine person who counts on CD-PAS services to live independently in their own homes. His proposal contains no plan whatsoever for their care if the CD-PAS program is terminated. The only way we’re going to save the CD-PAS program is by persuading legislators on Wednesday, Dec. 14, that it’s wrong to terminate CD-PAS in Maine. It’s wrong to force Maine people who use CD-PAS services into more expensive boarding or nursing homes. Again, go to the Maine State House on Wednesday, Dec. 14, to oppose the Governor’s proposal to eliminate CD-PAS. Arrive in the afternoon and be prepared to stay into the evening. For more information about the Governor’s proposal and related links, including the hearing schedule, guidelines for testifying and the audio link to the Appropriations Committee hearing, go to the MSEA-SEIU website at www.mseaseiu.org If you have any questions, call MSEA-SEIU headquarters at 622-3151 or 1-800-452-8794 and ask for Mary Anne Turowski.

MSEA marches in Portland

2011-10-30T18:41:00.002-04:00

MSEA march in Portland

California Governor Signs Landmark Patient Safety Legislation

2011-10-12T15:36:00.004-04:00

California Governor Signs Landmark Patient Safety Legislation Governor Jerry Brown recently signed landmark Safe Patient Handling legislation (AB 1136) to prevent a staggering epidemic of workplace injuries among hospital workers while improving patient care.

"The SEIU nurses here in California have long recognized the need for safe patient handling legislation and this was the year to finally get that accomplished,” said Ingela Dahlgren, RN, the Executive Director of the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California. “Too many of our nurses and other healthcare workers have been injured on the job while moving or repositioning the patients in their care.”

The nation's first Safe Patient Handling law requiring the purchase of safe patient handling equipment and training programs was passed in Washington State in 2006. As a result of the implementation of this law, a January 2011 study found that neck, back and shoulder injuries to hospital workers caused by manual patient handling have decreased by more than one third.

· Read more about this victory for patient care here.

New Maine law mandates better system for home healthcare consumers andfor direct care workers!

2011-07-18T18:15:00.002-04:00

Maine Enacts Law to Assess Quality of Direct-Care Jobs

Maine has passed a new law mandating the creation of a work group to review the quality of direct-care jobs within home and community-based programs administered by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.

The law — entitled “An Act to Stimulate the Economy by Expanding Opportunities for Direct Support Aides” (pdf) — was signed by Governor John Baldacci (D) on March 25.

Drawing on progressive and comprehensive workforce development principles, the law is intended to help Maine develop “a rational, equitable and clear framework for defining jobs, administering compensation, designing and delivering training, and ensuring a sufficient and high-quality workforce.”

Work Group’s Goals

The work group is to be convened by Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and will include both workers and consumers.

According to the new law, the group is charged with assessing the extent to which DHHS programs meet the following goals:

Develop a sequence of “employment tiers” including training links that crisscross Maine’s facility-based and home-based care services as well as acute care;
Establish a streamlined, statewide job classification system of direct-care job titles; and
Set reimbursement rates that take into account the costs of wages, benefits, training, travel, supervision, and administration with the goals of “achieving transparency and wage level parity across programs” and directly covering the cost of health insurance along with other employee-related expenses.

The existing job classification system is “very hard for workers to move across work settings and up a career ladder,” said Helen Hanson, a direct-care worker from China, Maine. “This legislation is a step in the right direction to solving problems that exist simply because of too many job titles.”

Other Aspects of the Law

The law also stipulates that Maine must increase the percentage of adults who receive long-term care in home and community-based settings rather than in facilities.

In April 2009, PHI testified on behalf of an earlier version of the Maine legislation which would have established a minimum wage of $12 for all personal assistance workers. That requirement was not included in the bill that Baldacci signed last month.

However, the new law is notable for its explicit focus on the fundamental elements that make up a quality job for direct-care workers.

– by Matthew Ozga

Test dates for the Direct Care Credential

2011-06-07T11:28:00.003-04:00

MSEA Local 771 is pleased to offer five scholarships for our union members to receive the Direct Care Alliance Personal Support Credential, a $140 value. Upcoming test dates will be

July 15 at MSEA in Augusta - 9-noon
July 16 at Alpha One in South Portland - 9-noon.
Applications are due by June 23. Contact us for an application.

DCA Credential Committee needs you!

2011-06-07T11:27:00.000-04:00

In 2011, the Direct Care Alliance rolled out the Personal Care and Support Credential. This credential provides direct care workers an opportunity to demonstrate their work readiness, knowledge, judgment and other critical skills necessary for providing personal care and support to people who are chronically ill, disabled, or dying.

To keep the exam fair, comprehensive and up-to-date, the Direct Care Alliance is creating a committee of experienced direct care workers to review the existing questions and discuss changes to the exam.

We are inviting you to become a part of that committee, which will be getting together for three days this summer. This meeting will take place in Alexandria, VA (Washington, DC metro area) on July 27, 28, and 29, 2011.

You do not need to prepare or study to attend this meeting. We are inviting you to take part because of your job experience. Test development experts will do the following activities at the meeting:

Describe the history of the Personal Care and Support Credential
Review the test sections and the types of questions
Describe the information (knowledge and judgment) the test measures
Teach you how to write and review test questions
Offer you the opportunity to practice writing and reviewing questions
Give you feedback while you are writing questions
Give you any additional information that you need

The Direct Care Alliance will pay your expenses, including the cost of travel, the hotel, and food.

Please call or email Helen Hanson, 347-563-1193 or hhanson@directcarealliance.org to sign up for this committee or for more information.

Scholarships for Direct Care Credential

2011-05-24T09:33:00.005-04:00

Local 771 members approved local sponsorship of 5 scholarships for members to take the Direct Care Alliance' Personal Care and Support Credential. This is a competency-based test for home health care workers that is based on existing skills and knowledge and requires no training. The credential has been developed by the DCA on a national level to meet the needs of the home health care workforce for a professional credential that recognizes their work experience. Please contact field rep Brian Oelberg for more info on how to sign up for the test, at 622-3151 x1123 or email brian.oelberg@mseaseiu.org. Scholarships will be given on a first come-first served basis. The credential is a $140 value. More info on the credential can be found at: http://www.directcarealliance.org/index.cfm?pageId=599

Next Local 771 Chapter Meeting is May 21...

2011-04-19T16:03:00.002-04:00

Support your chapter - Next Local 771 Chapter Meeting is Saturday, May 21 at 11am at the DOT blue bldg at 219 Hogan Road in Bangor.

QRS trainings - Saturday May 7

2011-04-19T16:01:00.001-04:00

QRS Music & Movement and QRS Portfolio Development (4 hrs.) You don’t have to be musically “talented” to bring music & movement to your program. Join us as we explore how song and movement can support the Maine’s Early Learning Guidelines. We’ll be doing hands on activities that you can bring back to your program. Megan London, facilitator. Cost: $10 Date: May 7, 2011 (Sat) Time: 9 am - 1:30 pm Location: Old Town YMCA, Stillwater Ave., Old Town Call to register: 973-3533 or 1-888-917-1100

Local 771 Chapter Meeting this Saturday 5/16

2011-04-12T10:50:00.003-04:00

Local 771 will be meeting this Saturday 5/16 at 10am at the MSEA offices in Augusta, 65 State Street.

Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) Trainings

2011-02-24T12:07:00.001-05:00

This Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) educational activity is a 45-hour training that blends online and face-to-face learning. Each of the six online weeks consists of 4.5 hours of instructor-guided readings and activities that participants complete at their own pace throughout the week in preparation for follow up during the face-to-face sessions. The CCHC training is open to registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and physicians. CCHC practice integrates well with Public Health Nursing, School Nursing, Head Start Health Coordination, and the roles of practitioners working in community settings. Questions? Contact: Joyce Murphy, Statewide Early Childhood Health Consultant and graduate of NTI/CCHC email: jomurphy@usm.maine.edu or phone: 207-615-2407

Maine’s Early Childhood Learning Guidelines

2011-02-24T11:25:00.001-05:00

Maine’s Early Childhood Learning Guidelines (30 hrs) Maine’s Early Childhood Learning Guidelines have been approved by Maine ’s Department of Education and Department of Health & Human Services. They are written for all children ages 3-5 and are a precursor to Maine’s K-12 Learning Results. Eight 3-hour sessions will include: orientation to the Early Childhood Learning Guidelines, integrating the guidelines into your current curriculum, adapting the guidelines to children with special needs, observation and assessment of young children using the guidelines and sharing them with families. This training is open to family child care, center-based, nursery school, Head Start and public pre-k programs. Cost is $15.00 for QRS participant, $20.00 for non-participant. For Saturday class please bring a bag lunch. Instructor: Hector Sapien Location: Sun Garden Learning Center, Rt. 1A, Winterport Dates & Times: March 5; 8-2:00 pm, March 10, 17, 24, 31; 6-9 pm, April 9; 8-2:00 pm Contact: Gail P. Johnston, 1-877-684-0466 or(207)443-1690 Gail.P.Johnston@maine.gov

Kids Kids Kids Conference - KVCC - April 16, 2011

2011-02-24T11:20:00.001-05:00

Presented By: Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation Child Care Options Resource Development Center 18th Annual Kids, Kids, Kids Conference $50.00 WHEN: Saturday, April 16, 2011 WHERE: Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield, ME TIME: 7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Earned Income Tax Credit for Direct Care Workers

2011-01-14T09:54:00.000-05:00

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income working families. Refundable means that it reduces what you pay in taxes and/or gives you money back. http://phinational.org/taxes/all-other-states/

Free classes on Dealing with Patients with Dementia

2011-01-14T09:51:00.001-05:00

This two-hour training is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of information vital to all professional caregivers. Learn: • Overview of dementia and its causes • The stages of dementia • Understanding how to tailor tasks and activities to disease stage • A review of the dementia-friendly environment • Communicating with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders • Understanding behavior as communication • Assistance with activities of daily living January 19, 2011 9:30 am —11:30 am Seely Hall Woodford Congregational Church 202 Woodford Street Portland, ME 04103 March 4, 2011 9:00 am—11:00 am Family Room First United Methodist Church 703 Essex Street Bangor, ME 04401 April 1, 2011 9:30 am—11:30 am Bluebird Conference Room Downeast Community Hospital 11 Hospital Drive Machias, ME 04654 April 1, 2011 2:00 pm—4:00 pm Calais Regional Hospital 24 Hospital Lane Calais, ME 04654 Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter 800-272-3900 Toll-free www.alz.org/maine FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER PLEASE CALL THE CHAPTER OFFICE AT 800-272-3900. understanding the resident with dementia THESE TRAININGS ARE BEING OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE THANKS TO A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE BORMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION. SPACE IS LIMITED. PRE-REGISTRATION MANDATORY.

HHS Increases Total LIHEAP Funding Available to Help Low-Income Families to $3.9 Billion

2011-01-14T09:49:00.000-05:00

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently announced the availability of additional funding to help eligible low-income families meet their home energy needs, bringing the total made available since October 1 to $3.9 billion. These funds will go to states, tribes and territories under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and are available under the terms of the latest continuing resolution. LIHEAP assists qualified families with their home energy needs such as heating in the winter, cooling their homes in the summer, and insulating their homes to make them more energy efficient and reduce their energy costs. These block grant funds will supplement two previous releases of funds under continuing resolutions in Fiscal Year 2011. A complete list of funds available to states today can be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2011/liheap_allocation.html Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state LIHEAP agency. For more information, please go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/ or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/brochure.html

Minimum Wage Not an Option for Most Home Care Workers

2011-01-13T09:55:00.005-05:00

This summer, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) filed the Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act (H.R. 5902) a bill that would extend the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to include home care workers.
This legislation would provide home care workers - who provide essential service to more than 13 millions seniors and people with disabilities - federal minimum wage and overtime protections. Home care workers are currently excluded from the basic workplace standards generally taken for granted by most working people - and poor compensation has led to a growing shortage of workers.
Passing the Sanchez bill will be difficult, but it is crucial. And you can take action today to move the legislation forward:
* On Facebook, become a fan of the Department of Labor and post this message: Secretary Solis, home care workers deserve minimum wage and overtime protection. It's time to change the companionship exemption regulations: http://bit.ly/a5pF1e
* On Twitter, copy, paste and tweet this message: @HildaSolisDOL, it's time to end the exclusion of home care workers from minimum wage and overtime exemption: http://bit.ly/a5pF1e
Read more about the campaign from the SEIU blog.

Former Local 771 President Helen Hanson's new direct care blog...

2010-10-19T19:36:00.006-04:00

Helen Hanson is a direct care worker who was one of the principal organizers of Local 771, which is a part of mseaseiu.org and represents direct care and home health care workers in Maine. She has started a new career as an advocate for the Direct Care Alliance and has a blog where you can follow her work: http://blog.directcarealliance.org/author/hhanson/ Helen is also running for the State House of Representatives from House District 55. There is a great new profile of her on Emerge Maine!

Health Voucher Program Helps Mainers Afford Insurance

2010-10-15T11:44:00.001-04:00

Maine PASA and its members have been working very hard to get the message out to the home health workforce that there are options in getting and maintaining affordable health insurance for themselves and their families. More info at http://www.dirigohealth.maine.gov/

MSEA-SEIU Members, Family, Friends Join in "One Nation" Rally at Lincoln Memorial

2010-10-08T10:44:00.000-04:00

New grant for Home Health Care training for Maine

2010-10-04T13:29:00.001-04:00

A total of $4.2 million was awarded to California, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, and North Carolina for the project. The six states that are participating in the three-year PHCAST Program are expected to train over 5,100 personal home care aides by 2013. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/09b/state_charts.html

Healthy Home Care, for Patients and Workers

2010-06-24T15:51:00.000-04:00

from PHI Blog

As patients continue to leave hospitals "sicker and quicker," home health care delivery is becoming more complicated. With patients needing more - and more complex - care, the workers in this "under the radar" health care setting face increased health and safety risks.

In addition to occupational hazards normally associated with health care delivery in general (e.g., contaminated sharps, heavy lifting, etc.), households can also present a wide range of potential occupational health hazards, from vermin to violence. Combined, these can put home care workers - including nearly 2 million direct care workers - at risk of occupational injury and illness.

Read the rest of the post

Major Grants for Direct Care Workforce in Health Reform

2010-06-24T15:00:00.001-04:00

from PHI, published by A. Toleos in the June 23, 2010 e-newsletter

PHI's Health Care for Health Care Workers campaign has released a fact sheet highlighting key health reform provisions related to investments in direct-care worker training and workforce development.

Health Reform Facts 1: Workforce Development and Training Opportunites for Direce Care Workers (pdf)

These investments include the creation of national advisory panels as well as grant opportunities for states and individual employers.

The following listt from the fact sheet summarizes the key opportunities available between now and when the law is fully implemented in 2014. Download the full fact sheet (pdf) for more information.

Commissions:
Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel (Title VIII, Sec 8002)
National Health Care Workforce Commission (Title V, Subtitle B, Sec 5101)

Training Grants:
Personal and Home Care Aide State Training Program (Title V, Subtitle 5, Sec 5507 (b))
Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide Program (Title V, Subtitle D, Sec 5309)
Training Opportunites for Direct Care Workers (Title V, Subtitle D, Sec 5302)

Workforce Development:
State Health Care Workforce Development Grants (Title V, Subtitle B, Sec 5102)
Enhancement of Long-Term Care (Title VI, Subtitle H, Sec 6703)

More information related to health reform and its impact on elder care and disability services is available at the PHI Health Reform Resource Center.

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Public Supports Paid Sick Leave

2010-06-23T20:54:00.000-04:00

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG Public Supports Paid Sick Leave

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG | Obama Warns Health Insurers on Rate Hikes

2010-06-23T20:51:00.000-04:00

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG Obama Warns Health Insurers on Rate Hikes

Joyce Gagnon 1943-2010

2010-06-21T14:02:00.002-04:00

It is with a sad heart that I write these words about Joyce Gagnon. Joyce passed away on June 14, 2010, after a long bout with cancer.

Joyce was a strong and tenacious advocate for Direct Care Workers here in Maine. She worked tirelessly building the Maine Personal Assistance Services Association, Maine's advocate for direct care workers of all kinds. Joyce worked on PASA's annual conventions, lobbying at the State House, PASA's fundraising and membership recruitment.

Just this past year, Joyce was an active member of the Direct Care Worker Taskforce, a group set up through Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to address many of the problems the workforce faces.

Joyce also had and hand in crafting legislation, twice, trying to bring health insurance to Maine's direct care workers. She met and talked with many leaders in the Maine Legislature about what it is like to be a caregiver, helping someone maintain their independence in their home, and not have health coverage themselves through their work.

Because of Joyce, Maine PASA became a member of the Kennebec Valley Organization. KVO took on direct care worker issues after it was learned through many round tables with members that many elders wish to remain home, but because of the issues surrounding the workforce, found it hard to get home care.

Joyce was also involved with Alpha One workers forming a union. At the time the workers unionized, their wage was $7.71 per hour. Joyce gave the union its name, Local 771, from that wage. Shortly after the union was approved by Governor Baldacci, Joyce lost the fellow she was caring for. She remained active in the union as long as she could, but then stepped down because she was no longer employed through Alpha One.

Aside from Joyce's advocacy work, she was a wonderful lady. I am honored to think of her as a friend and colleague.

I will miss her smile and wit. I will miss the meetings we had to come up with our next plan of action at the State House around legislation. I will miss the conversations we had about our families and our kitties. Joyce was a dear friend.

Helen Hanson, Local 771 and the Maine Personal Assistance Services Association

Urging Senators Snowe and Collins to support FMAP

2010-06-14T21:33:00.001-04:00

I am a direct care worker employed by Alpha One, and am urging Senators Snowe and Collins to support extending the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage funding known as FMAP and MaineCare.

In my job, I provide direct care services for a quadriplegic woman who counts on daily direct-care services so she can continue living in her home.

For those who are not familiar with direct care services, here's what I do every day on the job.

I make her breakfast, distribute medications, provide bowel care, and assemble the sling and hoyer lift to transfer her from the bed to shower.

I bathe her, transfer her back from shower to bed, towel dry her, provide deodorant and lotions, and dress her. I provide her with skin care for her legs, and arm weights to keep her limbs strong.

I provide catheter care. I transfer her from her bed to her wheelchair. And I perform housework for her: laundry, cooking, bookkeeping, grocery shopping, errands and doctors' appointments.

Keep in mind that thousands of other direct care workers in Maine provide similar services for the Maine people they care for.

Like other direct care workers, I find it especially fulfilling that my work makes it possible for thousands of Maine people to live independently in their own homes – instead of being forced into more expensive nursing or boarding homes.

Fortunately in the past few years, Maine's leaders have recognized the urgent need to build a reliable workforce of direct care workers to meet the growing demand for these services in all Maine communities. For direct care workers at Alpha One, this resulted in a pay raise from the $7.71 an hour that our pay had been frozen at for eight years, to the current $10 an hour. There are still no benefits whatsoever.

Direct care workers in Maine are determined to provide quality care for the people they serve. Yet we were shocked to learn that unless Senators Snowe and Collins extend the FMAP funding through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, that the $85 million in cuts to follow would severely diminish the services that are helping thousands of Maine people live independently in their own homes.

Unless Senators Snowe and Collins vote to extend FMAP funding, Maine people who use direct care services would see their services substantially cut back, forcing many of them out of their homes against their will.

Direct care workers themselves would see their hourly wages cut, forcing many to find better paying work elsewhere. This would threaten the quality care provided, and create real turmoil among Maine people who count on reliable direct care services.

Finally, unless Senators Snowe and Collins extend the FMAP funding, Maine's efforts to build a reliable network of direct care workers would suffer great harm – just as the demand for direct care services is increasing all across our nation.

For these reasons, I urge Senators Snowe and Collins to approve the FMAP extensions.

Helen Hanson, of South China, is president of the Maine Direct Care Workers Union Local 771 of the Maine State Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union.

If you're reading this, please call 1-877-442-6801 and tell our Senators to support extending FMAP.

Home Care for Maine requests Renegotiation of Wages

2010-06-11T08:58:00.000-04:00

Good news for Home Care for Maine workers - Mollie Baldwin, Home Care for Maine CEO, has requested that Article 12, the wages article of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 and Home Care for Maine, be reopened to negotiate a possible bonus and wage increase.

Article 12 states: "The Parties agree to reopen negotiations over wages, as addressed in this Article 12, if, as of July 1, 2010, the number of reimbursable hours worked by unit members exceeds four hundred thirty thousand (430,000) for the previous twelve months. Such negotiations may be scheduled to being forty to thirty days prior to July 1, 2010, if the projection of reimbursable hours worked by employees after ten months suggests that the four hundred thirty thousand hour threshold number will be reached. The negotiations will be limited to (1) a possible bonus payment to employees who are actively employed (on the active payroll) as of June 30, 2010, and (2) a possible future increase in the base hourly wage."

Congratulations to all the Home Care for Maine workers who helped reach the 430,000 reimbursable hour threshold! Your hard work and dedication to the people you help each and every day is paying off.

More than a Companion: My visit to the Department of Labor

2010-06-11T08:33:00.001-04:00

On May 28, I was with the Direct Care Alliance in Washington, DC, again bringing direct care worker issues to the attention of decision-makers. This time, at the U.S. Department of Labor.

We're all so excited about the FLSA extension issue being added to the regulatory agenda, and we met with two representatives from the Wage and Hour Division to explain why minimum wage and overtime protections are essential to creating a strong direct care workforce. The representatives were very open and honest, which I greatly appreciated. They met with us to learn more about what direct care workers do on a day-to-day basis and to understand more about our work. At one point they used the word "companion" to identify home care workers and I cringed. But I was easily able to explain to them the differences between companion and home care worker, which they appreciated.

I explained that I am more than a companion and I took them on a journey through my typical work day with my consumer - a quadriplegic woman who is totally dependent on direct care workers each day. I described the routine:

1. Make breakfast, distribute medications

2. Bowel care

3. Assembling sling and hoyer lift to transfer her from the bed to shower

4. Bathing

5. Transfer back from shower to bed, towel dry

6. Deoderant, lotions, dress upper body

7. Skin care of her legs

8. Arm weights to keep her limbs strong

9. Catheter care; drainage, secure the tubing, wrapping the catheter and port with gauze to protect her skin

10. Dress lower body

11. Transfer from bed to wheelchair

12. Housework, laundry, cooking, bookkeeping, grocery shopping, errands, doctors appointments

You might ask, "what was the point of going into such detail?" Well, the point was to demonstrate that our work goes far, far beyond simple companionship. We do not sit and watch "Price is Right" with our consumers. In fact, it is nearly impossible to even take a breather and get yourself a glass of water because you're often too busy. And as challenging and frustrating as our work can be at times, helping decision-makers understand the value of our work is exhilarating.

A display honoring labor unions in the D.O.L. lobby

posted by Helen Hanson, June 7th, Direct Care Alliance Blog

Three Years After Supreme Court Coke Decision

2010-06-11T07:36:00.000-04:00

from PHI Blog

June 11 is the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court case Evelyn Coke vs. Long Island Care at Home, in which the Court ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor could continue to exclude home care aides from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's wage and hour protections.

Ms. Coke spent years assisting elders and people with disabilities, often working overtime without any additional pay beyond her $7 per hour wage. Her effort to sue for back wages failed, but at the same time, brought increased attention to the injustice of treating professional caregivers as "companions to the elderly and disabled."

In its decision, the Supreme Court made it clear that the Department of Labor has the authority to end the companionship exemption and ensure fair treatment for home care workers.

The PHI Fair Wage Campaign
PHI, along with allies including the Direct Care Alliance, the National Employment Law Project, and SEIU, launched a campaign in March to end the exclusion of home care workers from minimum wage and overtime protections.

Since June 11, 2007, home care workers have served their clients an additional 1095 days, often receiving substandard wages and no benefits.

As a result of the campaign and increased media attention, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced plans to review the "companion exemption." A proposed rule is likely to be issued for comment by October 2011.

-by Karen Kahn

A message from the Maine Labor Group on Health

2010-04-26T18:44:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends of the Maine Labor Group on Health and Southern Maine Worker's Center,

As many of you know the Maine Labor Group on Health and the Southern Maine Worker's Center are partnering to hopefully provide occupational health and safety curriculum to low wage workers in the Portland area. We would love to have your input on this project. We are pursuing funding through the Maine Health Access Foundation's Fund for the Future (pdf). One of the aspects of this process is to solicit public comment about our project on either the Fund for the Future's facebook page .The link to the facebook page is more direct and will take you directly to our proposal where we would love to hear a comment. The deadline for comments is this Friday April 30th. Please take a quick 5 minutes and tell us what you think of our proposal, what you would like to see incorporated in to our training, and tell us about any personal experiences you might have had with workplace health and safety issues. The more comments we have the stronger our proposal will be and the better chance we will have at receiving funding for our work.
Thank you.

Chapter Meeting Minutes: April 24, 2010

2010-04-26T18:22:00.001-04:00

MSEA-SEIU Local 1989, Local 771

MINUTES

Chapter Meeting, April 24, 2010

Blue DOT Building, Hogan Road, Bangor, Maine

In attendance:

771 Members: Helen Hanson, Dixie Lewis, Doreen Strout, Theodore Rippy, Loris DiCesare

Wade Colpitts, 771 MSEA Board Liason; C.J. Betit, MSEA Field Rep;

Guests: Charlie Urquhart, Maine Labor Group on Health; Nicole Brown, Kennebec Valley Organization

Charlie Urquhart gave a presentation on the Maine Labor Group on Health. The Maine Labor Group on Health advocates for worker health and safety. Charlie talked about current federal legislation, Protecting American Workers Act, HR 2067, S 1580, that will increase protection for workers, increase penalties for businesses with violations, eliminate the loophole that allows employers to unclassify injuries, improve whistle blower protection, to name a few concerns. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Congressman Mike Michaud have signed onto this bill. There are 8 million public workers that are not covered under OSHA. Maine leads the way for worker protections. Charlie asked if 771 wants to support this legislation by signing onto a letter to Senators Snowe and Collins.

The second part of Charlie's presentation was on a grant that the Maine Labor Group on Health is applying for to provide some occupational and safety training for low wage workers in southern Maine. The grant is through the Maine Health Access Foundation. Knowing that direct care workers fit this bill, he asked the group for some health and safety problems that direct care workers face in their jobs. Some of the things mentioned were being physically threatened by a consumer, proper training for workers so they know how to respond to an emergency, handling verbal abuse from a consumer, support from supervisor, smoking by the consumer or family members when there is oxygen in the home, lack of access to health care because worker cannot afford it, lack of knowledge of laws pertaining to employment. The Maine Labor Group on Health is a finalist for this grant. If they are successful in getting it, direct care workers in the Portland area will be able to participate.

Nicole Brown gave a presentation on the Kennebec Valley Organization and how it is organized by member groups. MSEA-SEIU is one of KVO's largest members. Maine PASA's Leadership Council has become KVO's Health Care Team, tackling the issues facing direct care workers. Nicole gave an update on the LEAN process and what its goals are: increasing flexibility and portability for consumers and workers, increase consumers in self-directed care, consistency and equity in services, consolidating the current 7-program system down to a 3-program system. She talked about the extra $1 million that got invested in home care through this last budget cycle in the Legislature, she mentioned the passage of LD 1364 and how it will set the framework for setting up direct care worker employment policies.

Review of February meeting minutes – After the minutes were reviewed, Ted made the motion to accept the minutes; Loris seconded the motion, minutes were accepted by a unanimous vote.

Treasurer's report - Where Local 771's treasurer was not in attendance, Helen gave the report. Local 771 has $1,266.70 in its savings account and $484.12 in its checking account. Food for the meeting cost $33.47.

Discussion about 771 membership - As of March 16, 2010 771 has 216 full members and 106 fair share members. Wade had a more current membership count.

Discussion about MSEA statewide food drive - Bruce Prindle from one of the Augusta chapters has organized a union-wide food drive. Local 771 decided to make a monetary donation of $100.00 to the Good Shepherd Food Bank instead of collecting food donations. Ted made the motion to donate $100.00 to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, Dixie seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimous to make the $100.00 donation. Helen will write the check, mail it to the Good Shepherd Food Bank, and notify Bruce Prindle of 771's donation.

Discussion about Local 771 By-laws - Helen asked members to review the current by-laws and bring back concerns to the next meeting. Helen told members that she forwarded 771 by-laws to Bob Ruhlin, who sits with her on the Elections Process Committee, asking him to review them as well. She told members the section on elections needs review because MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 represents public and private sector workers. MSEA needs to follow the DOL rules on elections, providing maximum opportunity for all 771 members to vote in elections. CJ mentioned that by-laws changes can be discussed at one meeting, and then the vote is taken at the next. An advanced announcement needs to be made, notifying membership that a by-laws change vote will be taken at that meeting.

Discussion about expenditures for food at chapter meetings - Helen notified members that a pre-authorization, by membership, needs to be recorded in the Local's minutes, for someone to by food for Local meetings. Loris made the motion authorizing the purchase of food for Local meetings, for the year, but not to exceed $75 per meeting. Dixie seconded the motion. The vote to authorize the purchase of food for Local meetings, not to exceed $75 per meeting, was unanimous.

Wade asked if there is anything Local 771 needs from MSEA's Executive Board. Members couldn't think of anything at this time.

Local 771 agreed by consensus to sign onto the Maine Labor Group on Health's letter to Senator Snowe and Collins, urging them to support the Protecting American Workers Act. Helen will notify Charlie of 771's wishes.

Next Steps – next Local 771 meeting: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10 am to Noon, MSEA-SEIU headquarters, Augusta

Maine court upholds Anthem rate decision

2010-04-22T17:10:00.000-04:00

By The Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Superior Court has affirmed state regulators' decision to reduce Anthem's proposed rate increase of 18.1 percent to 10.0 percent for individual health plans.

In his decision Wednesday, Superior Court Chief Justice Thomas Humphrey said Maine law does not “expressly entitle insurers to a mandated profit margin.” Anthem contended that the 10.9 percent allowed by Maine's insurance superintendent provided no profit for the company.

The judge also said it was not improper for the superintendent to consider the state of the economy and profits from Anthem's other lines of insurance in making her decision on the proposed increase.

The decision addresses a 2009 rate request.

Anthem's proposed 22.9 percent increase this year for two individual coverage plans is still pending.

The Bangor Daily News 4/22/2010

REMINDER: Local 771 Chapter Meeting

2010-04-22T09:02:00.002-04:00

Local 771 is having its regular meeting on Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 10 am to noon at the Blue DOT Building on the Hogan Road in Bangor. All 771 members are welcome.

AGENDA: Local 771 Chapter Meeting, April 24, 2010

2010-04-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

MSEA-SEIU Local 1989, Local 771

Chapter Meeting

April 24, 2010, 10 am to Noon

Blue DOT Building, Hogan Road, Bangor, Maine

10:00 Welcome

Introductions

10:05 Kennebec Valley Organization

Nicole Brown

10:50 Maine Labor Group on Health

Charlie Urquhart

11:10 Review Minutes from February Meeting

11:15 Treasurer's Report

11:20 Membership Report

11:25 MSEA Food Drive

11:30 Local 771 By-Laws

11:35 Expenditures for Food at Chapter Meetings

11:45 MSEA Member Strength Network

11:55 Next Steps

Next Local 771 Meeting _________________________

12:00 Adjourn

Home and Community Based Care LEAN Update Tomorrow

2010-04-12T14:41:00.000-04:00

The Home and Community Based Care LEAN Core Team is meeting again tomorrow. The team has been invited back together by DHHS to receive an update on what has been happening with the implementation plan.

Last fall, the team reached consensus on revamping Maine's Home and Community Based Care system from a 7-program system to a 3-program system. With this comes Medicaid rule changes and funding stream changes.

Tomorrow, DHHS is letting the core team know what has taken place since January.

One thing the workers of Maine PASA and Local 771 pushed for was a comprehensive, comparable budget; a budget for the current 7-program system and a budget for the proposed 3-program system. Workers are curious to see if there will actually be savings in the new system.

DHHS took this as the workers wanting to see if there would be any savings that could be turned into higher wages. DHHS urged the worker groups to look for savings elsewhere to increase wages.

This was not the intent of the worker groups at all. The intent was to see if there are any savings between the old and the new systems. Some on the core team voiced their opinions that there wouldn't be savings, some said there would be. There is no way to tell unless actual figures can be looked at.

It is pretty bad when a department of our state government cannot produce a budget for a system currently in place.

Health Care Reform to Improve Long-Term Care for Both Consumers and Direct Care Workers

2010-04-12T14:21:00.000-04:00

Becka Livesay from the
Direct Care Alliance

Although health care reform continues to spark debate and controversy across the nation, when President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it marked the beginning of the most significant improvements to long-term care in a generation. Several components of the legislation, including Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement and the Elder Justice Act, will not only improve the care America's long-term care consumers receive but will also improve and better the working conditions and training for direct care workers.

NCCNHR, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, works to improve the quality of care and life for long-term care consumers and their families as well as working conditions and training for direct care workers. When health care reform passed Congress, nearly a dozen policy resolutions adopted by the NCCNHR were addressed, read more....

posted by Becka Livesay on the Direct Care Alliance blog, April 5th, 2010

What Health Care Reform Means for Direct Care Workers and Their Families

2010-04-12T14:08:00.000-04:00

If you're wondering what the health care reform means for direct care workers, take a look at this fact sheet (pdf) I received from the Direct Care Alliance.

It explains four different worker scenarios and how each one is affected by the health care legislation.

New Executive Director of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 Announced

2010-04-12T13:56:00.000-04:00

After a national search, the Board of Directors for the Maine State Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union, has hired Aroostook County native Chris Quint as the union's new executive director.

Quint will direct a union representing over 15,000 publicly funded and privately funded workers in Maine. He succeeds Tim Belcher, who resigned last fall and is now advocating on behalf of workers as a senior advocate for the Boston law firm Lichten & Liss-Riordan.

Quint, 33, of Biddeford, currently is senior public affairs director for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, a position he has held since June 2004. Prior to that, Quint was director of public policy for the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance in Denver from August 2002 to May 2004.

"We're thrilled that the person chosen to direct our union is a fifth-generation Mainer from Hodgdon in Aroostook County," said Bruce Hodsdon, president of the Maine State Employees Association. "Chris Quint has seen from his upbringing in Maine that public services strengthen Maine communities and improve the lives of all Maine people. Chris will direct our union in ensuring quality services for everyone in Maine, and in building and strengthening the coalitions to make it happen."

Hodsdon announced Quint's hiring at MSEA-SEIU headquarters, 65 State Street, Augusta on April 5th. He introduced Quint to the union's staff and to a chapter of union retiree members from greater Augusta at the union hall.

"It's just an incredible honor to direct the same union that my dad belonged to for 38 years as he plowed the roads in Aroostook County," Quint said. "Both my dad and my mom, who works for the special education department at Mill Pond School in Hodgdon, instilled in me the value of public service. Through hard work, they put my sister and me through college. While there are many challenges facing all workers in this difficult economy, we know that now more than ever, people count on public services in so many aspects of their daily lives, from strengthening their employment skills at the local CareerCenters to keeping their drinking water safe. I look forward to working with all MSEA-SEIU members as we advocate for the important services they provide."

Quint earned a bachelor of arts degree in history, political science and sociology from Colby-Sawyer College in 1998. He is married to Kimberly Smith Quint and they have two children. He will start working as the union's executive director in the coming weeks.

771 Chapter Meeting Location Change

2010-04-07T16:11:00.000-04:00

The location of Local 771's next chapter meeting has been changed.

Due to an accessibilty problem at Food and Medicine in Brewer, the meeting location has been changed to the Blue DOT Building on the Hogan Road in Bangor.

Good Things Keep Happening Here

2010-03-28T17:06:00.000-04:00

I saw in an update from the Maine House of Representatives that LD 1364 had been signed by the governor and passed into law. It came as a surprise.

LD 1364 An Act to Stimulate the Economy by Expanding Opportunities for Direct Care Support Aides was signed by Governor Baldacci on March 25th.

Click on the link and you'll see at the bottom of the page, "PUBLIC Law, Chapter 546." Click on any of the document links to see the text.

From the last work session I was at with 1364, I thought it was dead in the water.

Representative Matt Peterson was successful!

The original standard worker wage of $12 per hour was completely removed from the original bill, as was the language about standard reimbursement rates for all providers of personal assistance services. This language was removed because of the problems with the state budget.

What is in the bill is language defining "direct support aide", setting up the plan for developing direct support aide employment opportunities, and then setting up the multi-departmental oversight entity or advisory board to be responsible for and have authority to "implement and provide ongoing oversight and recommendations regarding direct support aide employment policies..."

This is some of the ideas and recommendations coming out of the Worker Taskforce that is a subset of the LEAN, our ideas and recommendations!

I think this may be a step in the right direction.

We'll have to keep an eye on DHHS to see if that work group does get put together.

We keep making small strides.

I thanked Elise Scala, from the Muskie School, for all her input with the worker taskforce and showing us how the current worker classification, or should I say, alphabet soup, is set up. To me, that was an extremely valuable presentation, a real eye opener. We have too many titles for the same core skills and supports we provide each and every day.

Missouri Medicaid Tries to Restrict Home Health Eligibility

2010-03-28T16:30:00.000-04:00

from PHI - posted by Deane Beebe, written by Matt Ozga

Missouri's Department of Social Services has learned that it will be sanctioned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for requiring that consumers be "confined to the home" to qualify for Medicaid-covered home health services.

Requiring someone to be homebound in order to receive home health services covered by Medicaid violates federal Medicaid law as interpreted by the Olmstead Update #3, issued by the federal Medicaid agency after the Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead decision.

Read More...

Victory for Direct Care Workers and All Americans

2010-03-28T14:44:00.001-04:00

From PHI - published by Allison Lee on March 22, 2010

We are celebrating for Cindy, John, Marva, Helen, and Linda and the tens of thousands of direct-care workers across the country who will now have affordable, quality health coverage. Last night the House of Representatives passed historic legislation that will slow the growth of health care costs, and improve access to quality health care for millions of Americans.

Insurance companies will no longer be able to undermine your health coverage. This is the end of the worst practices of the insurance industry—no more denials due to pre-existing conditions or dropping coverage for people who get sick. No longer will people go bankrupt because of illness and no hidden ceiling on your coverage.

Speaker Pelosi showed great leadership and members of Congress across the country rose to the occasion last night and voted FOR comprehensive reform. You can find the roll call vote for the bill (H.R. 3590) online. We thank them for their courage to ensure that quality health care is available to all of us and we ask that you do too.

In the coming weeks we will be analyzing how this legislation will impact the direct-care workforce. Until then, join with us in celebrating.

Allison Lee
Federal Policy and Campaign Manager
PHI
alee@phinational.org

MAINE vs. ANTHEM

2010-03-15T14:25:00.002-04:00

The cost of health insurance keeps skyrocketing, and Anthem keeps profiting. Now, they are suing the State for the right to charge Mainers even more for the health insurance we ALREADY cannot afford. But Anthem and Maine will square off in court on March 19, and Maine needs your help!

Join the Protest - Sign up Today by Clicking Here

For the last year, thousands of Mainers have been fighting Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's attempts to jack up their premiums as much as 35% on individuals. We have worked together to get the state to make Anthem keep the rate hikes down, but now Anthem is suing the state for a guaranteed 3% profit. Dozens of organizations, faith leaders, and hundreds of activists are calling for a two-day mobilization in Portland right before the court hearing to show Anthem that Maine will NEVER back down in the fight for quality, affordable health care for all.

Join the Fight - Click Here to Get Involved

MARCH 18, 5 pm - RALLY & PROTEST!

The night before the hearing, join hundreds of Mainers outside the Cumberland County Courthouse to protest Anthem's greed.

MARCH 19, 8 am - PACK THE COURTHOUSE!

Help us fill the courtroom and park outside to support Maine

in its fight against the greed that hurts our families.

Here's the skinny: Last year, Anthem asked for an 18% rate hike for certain policyholders. After holding hearings, Maine's Superintendent of Insurance denied that request but did grant Anthem a 10.9% rate increase. That wasn't enough for Anthem! They decided to file a lawsuit against the State of Maine to ensure a guaranteed profit at a time when many Mainers are struggling to just make ends meet. That case hasn't even been heard yet, and Anthem has already requested an additional 23% rate increase on the same policyholders on top of what they are suing for. Wellpoint, Anthem's parent company, made $2.7 billion dollars just in the 4th quarter of 2009, yet they are now asking Mainer's to pay even more.

We have a unique opportunity. The March 18 rally will have a strong impact by reminding the public that, without reform, they are left to the whim of Anthem's greed. Without passing health care reform, our elected officials will also be letting us down.

Now is the time to make a stand, and every person can make a difference. It will be exciting, historic and memorable - but it takes all of us standing together.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Impacting Your State's System - My Work Here in Maine

2010-03-14T12:32:00.004-04:00

My update on the Home and Community Based Care System LEAN report being presented to the Health and Human Services Committee. This was published by the Direct Care Alliance.

I have been working with friends and allies across the state to push the Department of Health and Human Services to present the LEAN report. After meeting with Senator Mitchell's office and several others, it finally happened.

On February 24, Diana Scully, the Director of the Office of Elder Services, presented the report. She took the committee through the process we went through as part of the Lean Team and described the many issues workers face on a daily basis. Read more....

Maine House Votes to Pass Cap Bill

2010-03-14T12:01:00.000-04:00

Bipartisan Bill would Remove Lifetime and Annual Caps from Health Insurance Policies

(Augusta) With bipartisan support the Maine house voted to pass a first in the country law which would eliminate lifetime and annual caps from health insurance plans in the state. Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC) is thrilled by the House's 99-38 vote to pass LD 1620, "An Act to Protect Health Care Consumers from catastrophic Medical Debt." CAHC released a report in January, False Security: Health Insurance That Doesn't Pay When You Need It Most, which explains why getting rid of these caps is better for Maine people and our economy.

"To see Maine once again lead the nation with its protections for our people, is so exciting. It is great that we can protect people, who have worked hard and paid taxes and insurance premiums from losing their homes and life savings, just because they got sick - and at such a small cost. We don't need to wait years for proposed federal reforms to go into effect to protect Maine families and businesses. We hope the Senate supports this bipartisan bill and gives Maine people the immediate relief they need," says CAHC Executive Direct, Joe Ditre.

LD 1620 is sponsored by House Majority Whip Seth Berry and has 46 bipartisan co-sponsors.

"No Maine family should every have to risk losing their homes or their life savings because a family member has been diagnosed with cancer, hemophilia, AIDS, multiple sclerosis - or any other illness that tends to accrue medical bills quickly," said sponsor Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham. "In this tough economy, Maine families cannot afford to wait for the federal reforms to be enacted. It could take years and people need our support now."

Economists have proven that when people have good health coverage and can get the care they need when they need it, it cost to our economy and health care system is far less than when people are uninsured.

The Senate will take up the bill next week.

Budget Cuts Restored

2010-03-14T11:12:00.000-04:00

From Senate President Libby Mitchell

In the coming weeks, I will be working with Governor Baldacci and the Legislature to ensure the restoration of proposed cuts to critical Maine services and schools. Among the Governor's revised budget restoration targets are:

$37 million in health and human services, including increased support for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, disability services, mental health crisis intervention and home-based services, with alternatives reductions of $13 million and new initiatives of $5.3 million
$20 million for K-12 education for FY 2011
$8 million for higher education for FY 2011 ($6 million for the University of Maine System; $1.7 million for Maine Community College System; and $267,139 for Maine Maritime Academy)
$6 million for municipal revenue sharing for FY 2010
$3.5 million for retiree health
Elimination of an $8.1 million payroll delay
$1.75 million to fully fund the State's obligation for disaster assistance
$2.6 million to pay for a job creation bond package

Breakfast for Legislators at Food and Medicine in Brewer, Maine - February 20, 2010

2010-03-02T20:37:00.002-05:00

The turnout was excellent; it turned into a standing room only situation. There we were a sampling of an American community doing what America does better than any other culture or civilization that has ever existed on this planet. We had a question and answer forum composed of leading Maine elected officials, and people, mostly activists, and community leaders concerned with community and state issues.

Present among the senators were; Senator Elizabeth Schneider, and Senator Richard Rosen: Representatives were; Representative Adam Goode, Representative Dick Blanchard, Representative Jim Martin, Representative John Piotti, Representative David Richardson, Representative Jim Schatz, and Representative Emily Caine, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Jack McKay, Eastern Maine Labor Council President, welcomed everyone, and opened the session by introducing Laura Binger, coordinator for Food and Medicine. Barbara Lambarada was the timekeeper, who gave a signal for all speakers after four minute presentations from the floor. Barbara waved a colored flag to call time, if the speaker went too far over, Barbara had a wooden log that she assured us would stop the speaker. We all knew the wooden log was only a laughing point, but few took a chance on going over the limit.

Laura Binger laid out the ground rules, and introduced the speakers. The legislators had been briefed on the topics, but not the specifics. When I was asked to present questions or concerns, I stated that I am not a politician, nor do I carry around statistics in my head, and with a four minute statement of my concerns could I touch on but little.

I spoke about one of the issues that I have recently been involved in, because of giving testimony in support of Representative Matt Peterson, LD 1078, a bill to improve conditions for consumers of home health care, and activities of daily living, and advocacy for direct care workers.

I had worked on a task force that was called to implement that bill because it had already been signed into law. Our job on the task force was to work on specifics to see what the improvements would look like. Coincidently I and my fellow workers who had done the work were at a session the following week with the Department of Human Services heads as they presented our report to the Health and Human Services Committee.

One interesting point in all of this is two of my co-workers on this task force also attended the Voices institute, the significance being that I am also a graduate of the Voices Institute. I truly felt an air of empowerment at this breakfast.

I requested the senators and legislators to support representative Matt Peterson in his efforts with his bills concerning consumers of in home health care services, and professionalization of home health care workers.

One of my last statements I needed to admit sounded almost egotistical, but there was truth when I stated that “if I ever found myself in need of help from direct care staff, I hope that they have as much knowledge as I possess, at the present time, due to experience, and training. I believe that there was a little apprehension until we saw the department of Human Services presenting our work at the State Capitol.

The visit to the state capitol was a sort of continuation and anticlimax to that breakfast which I felt honored to attend. The two union members that I would like to mention are Dee Dee Strout, President of Maine PASA, and Helen Hanson, President of Local 771, of which I am Secretary. We all three are graduates of The Voices Institute.

submitted by Theodore Rippy, March 2, 2010

Independent living & disability rights advocate takes up the case of direct care workers

2010-03-02T19:53:00.005-05:00

posted by Leonila Vega on the Direct Care Alliance's blog, February 25, 2010

On a recent trip to Maine, I sat down with Representative Matthew Peterson of District 92 to discuss his work on behalf of direct care workers in the state. He has worked in direct care for years, and is currently an Independent Living Specialist at Alpha One, a center for independent living. As an elected official, Matthew is able to advocate for change in direct care and believes it is an essential and valuable workforce. It is inspiring and encouraging – Matthew has linked his personal passion and commitment to independent living to advocating the need for a well-trained, respected and well-paid direct care workforce. Watch the brief interview I was able to record with Matthew, below.

Imagine if more disability leaders and independent living advocates joined the Direct Care Alliance and made their voices heard on the issues that matter. What if, like Matthew, you could advance change in your community, your state, and eventually, across the country? Matthew shows that we can be heard. More importantly, Matthew shows that independent living and well trained, respected, well paid direct care workers are essential to autonmy and quality of services and supports for people living with disabilities. Most of the issues Matthew discussed in the video apply to us all. There are more than 22,000 direct care workers in Maine, and despite the fiscal crisis Matthew has kept issues like livable wage and appropriate titles on the docket. He believes that there is no better advocate than the workers and consumers, and I couldn’t agree more.

Remember – we don’t have to be elected officials to have an impact. By being involved with the Direct Care Alliance and sharing your passion with others, you can advance change. I hope you’ll continue working with me and with your colleagues across the country to make your voices heard.

Sick of Anthem and Mega Raising Your Rates? Join Us at Upcoming Public Hearings & Speak out about It!

2010-02-18T15:55:00.009-05:00

Mega Life and Health Insurance and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield want to raise their rates again. But if you have something to say about it-- speaking out may make a difference. There are several public hearings coming up on the issue (listed below) and if you can't make any of them, you can write your opinion about it to the Bureau of Insurance (address below).

Mega is asking the Bureau of Insurance to allow them to raise rates an average of 21% on its small groups policies with maximum increases of 33%. It's asking for increases up to 25% on individual policies with average increases of 12.5%. These increases would affect nearly 8,000 policy holders. They are set to take effect April 1, 2010.

Anthem wants to raise its rates for people who buy their own insurance too. Average proposed increases for HealthChoice, HealthChoice Standard and Basic, and Lumenos Consumer Directed Health Plan products about 23%. At least 11,000 policy holders will be affected by these rate hikes. Anthem requests that its proposed rate revisions become effective on July 1, 2010.

Dates of public hearings around the state and contact information for the Bureau of Insurance is below.

For Both Mega and Anthem:

Location:  Portland

Cumberland County Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Sq., Maine Lobby Room
Date:  February 22, 2010
Time:  beginning at 4:00 PM


Location:  Bangor
1 College Circle, Husson University @ Libra Lecture Hall Date: February 24, 2010
Time:  beginning at 4:00 PM

For Mega Only:
Location: Gardiner

76 Northern Avenue, Central Conference Room, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
Date: February 25 and 26, 2010
Time: beginning at 9:00 AM

For Anthem Only:
NOTE: Bureau says this may be rescheduled. We will keep you posted.
Location: Gardiner

76 Northern Avenue, Central Conference Room, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
Date: April 8, 2010
Time: beginning at 9:00 AM

Comments may also be provided for the Superintendent of Insurance's consideration in these matters as follows:

B
y e-mail:

Pat.Galouch@maine.gov

By U.S. Mail:
Superintendent of Insurance
Attn: Pat Galouch (INS-09-1002)
34 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

Don't Let Insurers Make More Record Profits Off of Us!

If you'd like to testify at the public comment sessions or write a letter of testimony, but feel you could use some help, feel free to contact Cherilee at Consumers for Affordable Health Care. She might be able to give you a hand.

Thank you for helping us step closer to quality, affordable health care for all Maine people.

Companion Exemption Does Not Apply to Workers in Community-Based Settings, Court Confirms

2010-02-18T15:48:00.001-05:00

Posted on14 January 2010.

Western Missouri District Court, Kansas City, MO

Supportive services workers who care for people with Medicaid in community-based residential care settings are not exempt from federal minimum wage and overtime requirements, confirmed a U.S. district court in Western Missouri.

The case of Solis v. Firstcall Staffing Solutions, Inc. (pdf) involved 10 developmentally disabled consumers sharing four dwellings in an Independence, MO, apartment complex. The employer, Firstcall Staffing Solutions, had argued that because the community-based care facility had been set up as individual apartments, it should be treated as the recipients’ homes.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “companionship” exemption, workers providing certain services in a consumer’s private home are currently exempt from minimum wage and overtime protections.

Backs Longstanding DOL Position

The court agreed with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that the community-based residential setting did not qualify as a private home.

“The DOL and most federal courts have taken the position that the companionship exemption does not apply in such settings,” said Paul Sonn of the National Employment Law Project.

Community-Based Care Not Affected by Possible Exemption Reforms

“Because service workers employed in community-based residential care settings are already covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime requirements, they would not be affected by possible reforms to the companionship exemption,” Sonn continued.

PHI and other advocates have called on DOL to narrow the exemption in order to extend wage and overtime protections to a greater number of home care workers.

“While we await Department action on limiting applicability of the companionship exemption to agency-employed home care workers, it is heartening to see DOL’s vigilance in combating efforts to extend the exemption more broadly and deprive direct-care workers of their rightful wage and overtime protections,” said Steve Edelstein, PHI’s National Policy Director.

PHI Blog - PolicyWorks

Local 771 Chapter Meeting Minutes

2010-02-16T12:50:00.001-05:00

MSEA-SEIU Local 1989, Local 771

MINUTES

Chapter Meeting, February 12, 2010, 10 am to Noon

The Solidarity Center, 20 Ivers Street, Brewer, Maine

In attendance:

771 Members: Lois DiCesare, Dee Dee Strout, Carolann Cammack; Ted Rippy, Sheila O'Donnell (by phone), Helen Hanson

Wade Colpitts, 771 MSEA Board Liason; C.J. Betit, MSEA Field Rep; Maryanne Turowski, MSEA Political Director

Guests: Laura Binger, Food and Medicine; Jeff Siddons, Change that Works

Minutes from November meeting reviewed, Carolann Cammack made motion to accept, Ted Rippy seconded the motion, unanimous vote to accept the minutes.

Treasurer's Report given by Helen Hanson, as 771's treasurer, Pat Crowell is in Florida (lucky girl!) until April. 771's savings account $1,266.22, 771's checking account $517.59. $44.25 was spent on food for the meeting.

Membership Count Report, Wade asked Helen to call him for the numbers, as there is an MSEA board meeting Friday, Feb. 19. Wade also mentioned that he will ask for an update from Mike Sylvester on how Local 771 and KidsFirst will continue to grow without an organizer. Wade is bringing this concern from MSEA's Care Division to the Board at their next meeting.

Legislative Update from Maryanne, cuts to be made at 10% to all Medicaid (MaineCare) providers; nursing homes, home care, mentally disabled, mental health, cuts to state workers, hospitals, education, the governor is not proposing to increase taxes

The budget will cause loss of 7,000 to 10,000 jobs, the budget has the potential to increase property taxes for homeowners, people will lose jobs.

SEIU is lobby Senators Snowe and Collins about jobs money.

Representative Matt Peterson is the champion for home and community based care.

The LEAN process: providers are not happy with Matt's proposal to streamline the system, get money from administrative costs, and not out of the pay of the workers, the providers want no cuts, it is easy for them to say it.

Maryanne; Bruce Hodsdon, MSEA president; and Steve Butterfield, MSEA executive director, met with Governor Baldacci yesterday (Feb. 12). Ryan Lowe, he oversees the budget process, was also in attendance. The governor said that no program is coming out unscathed, there will be cuts. MSEA brought forth the Lean of Home and Community Based Care and said there are alternatives in the report. MSEA and Local 771 want the Department of Health and Human Services to take the recommendations coming out of the Lean seriously. The governor said he understands that nursing homes are very important. Nursing homes are #1, Residential Care Facilities are #2, Home-Based Care is #3.

The union is working on a message coming from workers to legislators about the Lean and streamlining the system, what is happening with the Lean report not being presented by DHHS to the Legislature.

Wade suggested that we workers write letters to the governor, we workers involved in the process sign on.

There was discussion about the work of a direct care worker, the Goold assessment and Elder Independence of Maine. Discussion on the self-directed programs and how that care delivery method is so much different than that of agency care delivery. Ted talked about his consumer in the self-directed program of Alpha One and how his workers are the team that keeps him home and as independent as possible.

More discussion on the Lean and how it gives consumers more choice. We have a shot at implementing the recommendations in the Lean, but not by July 1^st.

The state budget cuts currently under discussion will go into effect on July 1^st.

The contracts with Home Care for Maine and Alpha One cannot unilaterally cut workers' pay. Management has to reopen contracts.

Alpha One has a new contract with 34 votes in favor and 2 opposed.

The Direct Care Alliance, a national worker advocacy group that works on issues workers face in their jobs wants to set up a chapter here in Maine. Three 771 members have graduated from the DCA's Voices Institute, Helen Hanson in 2008, Ted Rippy and Dee Dee Strout in 2009. 771 wants to work with the DCA on setting up the chapter.

The DCA is also setting up a pilot project where workers can obtain a DCA credential that will be recognized across the country. The credential is for personal assistance workers who support elders and people with disabilities with the activities of daily living in their homes. The credential is based on what personal assistance workers need to know and be able to do in order to do their work well. The DCA will administer a test to those interested in obtaining the credential. The benefits to workers are that they will be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge base that is applicable to performing a high-quality direct care job. They will also formally receive professional recognition for their achievement at a national level. Workers can experience a sense of pride in their work and receive professional recognition from their colleagues.

Local 771 president, Helen Hanson, wants to roll this opportunity out to members in 771.

Maine PASA is conducting a membership outreach. Many 771 members are also members of Maine PASA. PASA is holding regional worker get together on March 27^th. One meeting will be in Bangor, one in Waterville and one in the Lewiston area. PASA's leadership council is in the process of making phone calls to members, asking them what concerns they have.

Food and Medicine in partnership with the Eastern Maine Labor Council is hosting a Legislative Breakfast on February 20^th at 8 am. This is a great opportunity for 771 members in the Bangor area to go and talk about their jobs and what the potential cuts to home care services mean to them. Carolann Cammack is attending and she'll bring up the Lean report and the fact that DHHS is not presenting it back to the Legislature. Food and Medicine has invited many labor unions to attend and talk to legislators in a show of solidarity. It is time for legislators to hear from labor. The cost is $5 to attend.

C.J. Betit mentioned that Home Care for Maine is currently not hiring. When they do hire, new workers wait three months for work, they do not get any, and then are taken off the company rolls. EIM is not putting new cases out to providers. Assessing those in need has changed; people get assessed then go onto the waiting lists, so Goold is not doing assessing.

Change that Works, Jeff Siddons, he covers Somerset, Piscataquis and Penobscot counties for Change that Works, still working on the Employee Free Choice Act and on Health Care Reform.

Feb. 24^th at 4 pm at Husson in Bangor, Anthem rate increase public hearing, the public has the chance to ask Anthem why they are requesting a rate hike, again, on their individual policy holders. 771 members in the Bangor area are encouraged to attend. March 18 and March 19 rally and hearing in Portland.

Next 771 meeting: April 24^th, 10 to noon, the Solidarity Center in Brewer.

Local 771 Chapter Meeting Notice

2010-02-08T16:16:00.003-05:00

Local 771 is having its Chapter Meeting on February 13th at Food and Medicine on 20 Ivers Street in Brewer.

All members are welcome.

Directions to Food and Medicine: Exit 182 off I-95 onto I-395, towards Brewer, go over bridge, take a left off the exit ramp (ME-15/South Main Street) onto South Main Street. Follow South Main about .5 mile. Pass Van Raymond's Outfitters on your left and a playground on your right. Just after the playground and just before St. Theresa's Church, take a right onto Ivers Street. The Solidarity Center is at the top of the hill.

Thanks to Ted Rippy for setting this up for us.

Alpha One Contract ratified by workers

2010-02-08T16:06:00.000-05:00

The Alpha One contract was ratified by workers. It received 94% of the votes cast.

To view it, click on ALPHA ONE contract.

Congratulations to the Alpha One workers!

Heatlh Care Coverage for Direct Care Workers through Dirigo

2010-01-17T18:07:00.001-05:00

Affordable Health Insurance for Uninsured Low Income Part-Time and Seasonal Workers - Expanding Dirigo Health

Follow the link, scroll down to where you see the Direct Care Worker Taskforce documents. The Health Insurance pdf is at the bottom of the Worker Taskforce documents.

Direct Care Workers, bring this to the attention of your employers.

Home Care for Maine and Alpha One Workers' Wages Protected by Contracts

2010-01-17T17:56:00.000-05:00

With all the talk these past weeks on the proposed 10% cuts to funding to programs Alpha One and Home Care for Maine workers work in, many have expressed concern that their wages will be cut.

Alpha One and Home Care for Maine workers' wages are protected through collective bargaining agreements. If either entity wants to cut wages, they have to do so by opening their contracts and negotiating the pay cuts with workers.

There is a lot of misleading information getting passed around.

No one yet knows if the cuts will go through as proposed. The governor put it out there that cuts need to be made at 10% across the board. Appropriations and Health and Human Services Committees held public hearings on these cuts all last week. They have not made their decision yet.

Alpha One and Home Care for Maine do not yet know if these cuts will go through at the governor's recommended level. Both are speculating at this point.

It is likely that some sort of a cut will go through, keeping in mind the severity of the state's revenue shortfalls, but at this point, no one yet knows.

If 771 members have questions about their contracts, the cuts, what the cuts might mean, call C.J. Betit, 771's field rep, at 1-800-452-8794. Let him know what you've heard.

This Past Week at the Maine State House

2010-01-17T17:42:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, members of Local 771 testified at the public hearing before the Joint Committees of Appropriations and Health and Human Services in opposition to the 10% cuts proposed for the programs members work in.

Carol Cammack, a Home Care for Maine worker, told the committees that she works without taking vacations and time off because when workers take that time, they do not get paid. She told the committees that the schedulers, supervisors and ceo's of Maine's home care agencies get paid holidays, paid vacations and have access to health care benefits.

Helen Hanson, Local 771's president, offered suggestions as to how the Home and Community Based Care programs could find savings. She suggested consolidating all the home care agencies that rely on state funding down to five or six regional agencies, thereby saving on overhead and administration. She suggested looking into the way Goold Health Systems and Elder Indpendence of Maine do business to see if there's any cost savings there.

Senator Brannigan, co-chair of the Health and Human Services Committee asked Helen if any analysis had been done in the Lean around the idea of consolidating agencies. She responded honestly with a no.

Members of the Lean Core Team were also in attendance with many testifying against the proposed cuts.

On Wednesday, another hearing was held pertaining to the cuts to the state funded Home Based Care program.

That same morning, LD 1059 had a work session in the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. LD 1059 was the bill to set up a pilot project, using what the state of Montana did to insure its direct care workers.

Members of the Lean's Direct Care Worker Taskforce were present. Elise Scala was prepared to present to the Committee her findings on the Montana model. She did not get the chance to.

Diana Scully, the director of the Office of Elder Services, DHHS, spoke to the committee, telling them that with the current financial crisis the state budget is facing, it simply is not feasible to set up a pilot using $500,000, as the bill directed.

What Ms. Scully did say was that the Governor's Office on Health Policy has been awarded a $8.5 million grant to provide health insurance through Dirigo to direct care workers, part-time workers, and seasonal workers.

The committee members had many questions about this grant for Ms. Scully. She could not answer them. The committee also acknowledged that this is a grant, meaning that once the money is spent, it is gone.

Ms. Scully and the committee both agreed that a later meeting with Trish Riley from the Governor's Office on Health Policy and possibly someone from Dirigo is the next step. The committee will ask for specifics from Ms. Riley as to how the grant will be implemented, what groups are targeted to be covered, how the insurance will come about, etc.

The first part of this grant is being rolled out through employers. Agencies employing direct care workers need to sign on. The grant monies are to help cover the employer's share of the insurance. This is happening January 2010.

The second part of the grant is being rolled out in July with workers self-insuring. There are income guidelines that will allow for subsidies for workers to help them cover the cost of their premiums.

If you are a direct care worker, working for an agency, be it Home Care for Maine, Care and Comfort, Home Hope and Healing, any of them in Maine, and are interested in obtaining health insurance through your work, through this grant, contact your employer and ask them about it.

The committee unanimously voted LD 1059 ought not to pass, because of the state budget crisis.

The meeting that the Insurance and Financial Services Committee requested with Trish Riley is scheduled for sometime this week. The date and time is not yet known.

Thursday afternoon, LD 1364 had a work session with the Health and Human Services Committee. The bill's sponsor, Representative Matt Peterson, amended the bill. Members of the Direct Care Worker Taskforce, stemming from the Lean process, were in attendance.

The bill originally was to raise wages for Direct Care Workers. Again with the current state budget crisis, wages will not increase for Maine's direct care workers.

What Representative Matt Peterson is proposing is to keep the work of the Direct Care Worker Taskforce going. This group has come up with recommendations to strengthen the workforce through better wages, training, classification, etc. He is also proposing a definition change, removing the definition of a personal care assistant and replacing it with direct support aid.

Diana Scully was at this work session as well. She raised the issue that the language around PCA training would also be removed. The HHS Committee had many questions. One asked if the workforce is aware of these possible changes.

Representative James Campbell asked Helen Hanson if the work of the Worker Group from the summer of 2008, looking into obtaining health insurance for workers, was involved in the current Worker Taskforce. Helen responded that it is and so is much more. Helen told him that the Taskforce is looking into coming up with a classification system for the workforce because there are so many titles, she told him that the group is looking into training and the issues surrounding that, the group is looking into the Montana model.

The committee decided to hold another work session because of the changes in the definition that Representative Peterson is proposing. That session is scheduled for February 4th at 1 pm in the Health and Human Services Committee room.

Alpha One Contract goes out for ratification

2010-01-17T16:43:00.002-05:00

January 11, 2010

Dear Alpha One Member of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989,

The Executive Board of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 has unanimously approved your negotiated Tentative Agreement covering 850 direct care workers to be presented to you for a ratification vote at this time. Please review your copy of the Tentative Agreement (new language is underlined) and vote my marking your ballot either to accept or reject its terms. If you have any questions, contact Field Rep C.J. Betit at 1-800-452-8794, ext. 1119.

Ballots and a copy of the Tentative Agreement has been mailed out to Alpha One members the week of January 11th. Be sure to check your mail and return your vote to MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 by 5 pm on January 26, 2010.

This Agreement reaffirms the parties' commitment to work cooperatively toward mutual goals affecting our members while recognizing the challenging landscape we all face in the current economic environment. As well, this Agreement captures Alpha One's ambition to expand to a full agency model in order to remain a leader in the Direct Care field. As we continue to fend off cuts to funding in the legislature, we also seek new funding sources for improved pay and access to benefits, and this Agreement allow us to re-open sections of the contract if funding becomes available to improve those areas. Additionally, there are added protections giving MSEA the ability to negotiate if the agency changes hands or evolves to a form of employee ownership to make sure the mission of Alpha One continues.

The members of MSEA Local 1989 continue to make improvements to our contract through bargaining. We also continue to fight in the Legislature for improvements to the direct care system and improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions for all of us. I encourage all members to vote to accept this contract as we all continue to work for a better future.

Please make your selection on the enclosed ballot, either Accept or Reject,and return the ballot to MSEA using the postage paid envelope that was enclosed. All ballots must be received at MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 Headquarters, located at 65 State Street, Augusta, Maine by 5 pm on January 26, 2010, and will be counted at that time. All members are welcome to attend the ballot count.

In Solidarity,
C.J. Betit
MSEA Field Representative

Direct Care Workers and the People they Serve Again are Facing Cuts

2010-01-09T07:51:00.000-05:00

We all know the State's revenues are down again. We all know there is a $400 million gap that lawmakers need to fill in order to balance the State's budget.

A big part of that balancing act is coming out of Health and Human Services and again, Maine's elders and those with disabilities, both living in their homes will be hurt.

One cut targets the Home Based Care (HBC) program with a $500,000 reduction, effectively cutting the program in half. DHHS is looking to achieve this by cutting the number of hours of care received. That equals a cut in pay for those direct care workers giving the care.

The second cut targets the two MaineCare self-directed programs (Section 12-CDAS and Section 22-Waiver). This cut will reduce the current hourly rate by 10%. This will NOT impact the hours of care, but will reduce the already bare-bones pay direct care workers receive. This may make it hard for those needing care to retain their caregivers because the caregivers will seek work elsewhere. It will also make it extremely hard for those in the self-directed programs to find new workers because they cannot offer a livable wage.

These cuts are poor public policy. We need to find a better way to reduce expenses without harming those needing care and without harming the workers providing the care.

We as workers, and those we care for, have a opportunity to voice our opposition, concerns, and ideas for reducing expenses. There are two public hearings on these proposed cuts coming up at the State House.

The first is on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 1 pm in room 228, the Appropriations Committee Room. This is on the MaineCare cuts.

The second is on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at 9 am in room 228. This hearing is on the Home Based Care cuts.

Please join me, and the lady I care for, at these hearings. It is so important for lawmakers to hear from those that will be affected by these cuts.

Home and Community Based Care Lean Summary

2010-01-03T09:32:00.004-05:00

as of December 30, 2009

The Home and Community Based part of Maine's Long-Term Care System has been put through a Lean process to make it more efficient, address inequality in services provided, and hopefully gain some cost savings that can be passed on to workers in the form of livable wages and benefits such as paid sick time and vacations and health care coverage.

The Lean process is the direct result of four pieces of legislation that came through this past legislative session. This legislation deals with worker issues in one form or another. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is charged with reporting back to the Legislature with the findings and recommendations coming out of the Lean process.

The actual Lean started up in early September. Five members of Maine Personal Assistance Services Association (Maine PASA); Dee Dee Strout, Ted Rippy, Cathy Bouchard, Julie Moulton and Helen Hanson, of which four are Voices Institute graduates (2008 and 2009) and three are Local 771 of MSEA-SEIU members, worked to position themselves to serve on the core team and two were successful in achieving seats on the team. The two that were successful were Julie Moulton and Helen Hanson. Cathy Bouchard became an alternate and she stepped up when Julie was not able to finish the Lean work. This is the first time workers have been involved at this level of working on system change.

The core team was charged with mapping out the system's current state in order to see where duplications and inefficiencies are happening.

The team then mapped out the system's future state with many ideals and values in mind, things that would improve service for Maine's elders and those with disabilities. From this map, we developed areas that need changing, the implementation plan.

One of the biggest changes is streamlining the system into three programs instead of seven. Along with this comes rule and policy changes, the different sections of MaineCare (Medicaid) and Office of Elder Services code getting rolled into one system that is easier to navigate, provides quality care, provides portability (a consumer can easily move from one program to another without the hassle of going through the assessment process again), and optimum choice for those needing home care or community based services.

With the mapping part of the Lean process over, the real work is now beginning. The core team has developed an implementation plan that has an aggressive timeline being driven by the legislation. There are activities in this plan around worker issues.

Where all four pieces of legislation driving the Lean process deal with worker issues, DHHS set up a Direct Care Worker Taskforce to address issues and make recommendations for change, as part of the report going back to the Legislature. This taskforce is made up of workers and providers and staff of DHHS.

Maine PASA Leadership Council members have identified seven activities surrounding the direct care workforce that we are actively involved in through the Taskforce.

1) Decide upon a single, inclusive title for caregivers – we have too many different titles

2) Encourage workers to work together as a team for the consumer, providing coverage for each other as needed, help with the fill-in problem

3) Provide higher incentives for DCWs: pay, benefits, mileage, pay differentials for nights/weekends, raise wages to $12.00/hour across all programs

4) Provide work stability for workers when a person in their care goes into the hospital or nursing home and the worker's hours are cut; make it easier for workers to pick up more work

5) Enhance opportunities for all direct care workers to receive training

6) Review training requirements and inequities, identifying how to make them more consistent and appropriate across program/modes of service and types of workers

7) Provide training for specialty equipment for clients/DCWs (equipment like mechanical lifts and oxygen apparatus)

These seven activities came out of the work of the core team, recommended changes to make to the system.

The Worker Taskforce has met three times so far. This work is ongoing through the winter and possibly into the spring. Maine PASA has five leader-members; Dee Dee Strout, Ted Rippy, Cathy Bouchard, Joyce Gagnon and Helen Hanson, as part of this taskforce. The seven activities identified as top priorities to work on are part of the work assigned to the taskforce.

We've had two meetings in December. The topic on the agenda at the first December meeting was the worker nomenclature. The second December meeting continued discussion around the nomenclature and starting discussion on what the State of Montana has done to gain health insurance coverage for its workers, with the possibility of implementing something similar here in Maine.

We've seen that worker education seems to define the title a worker has. What is not taken into account is that the core of the work performed by all the different titles in direct care work is basically the same.

We are looking into the possibility of developing three classes of workers. With this in place, it will be easier for workers have access to the training they need when they want to move up in their caregiving careers or move across programs that provide care. It will also identify core competency skills that those providing direct care should have, and help develop career pathways for when a worker wants to move up or move to a different work setting.

As a member of the Direct Care Worker Taskforce and recently completing my CNA training, I am in support of this three tier system of classification for workers. In the CNA training, the first part was training I had previously had as a Personal Support Specialist. I was able to use the same text I had in the PSS training. It would have been better if I could have proved my competency in these areas by testing out of them, or illustrating my skills somehow.

Where I've been working as a PSS for a few years, I possess those core skills, skills needed to bathe, dress, handling boundaries and abiding by them, ADLs, etc.

We workers met with DHHS, after the first December regular meeting, to talk about issues that we face in our day to day work with the people we serve. There were no providers present. This was an opportunity for workers to let the department know some of the challenges workers face and also provide feedback as to current policy and how it does or does not work. With no providers present, it meant that workers could talk freely without fear of reprimand from their employers. This was the workers' chance to shine.

At the second December meeting, DHHS had set aside time for workers to talk directly with them. No issues came up. I thought it was a good gesture on DHHS's part. Again, workers have not been involved at this level of policy making before, as far as I can tell. So, when workers get a chance to talk directly with DHHS, I encourage them to come and do so.

Now, the Department of Health and Human Services, with input from the Lean Core Team members and the Worker Taskforce, is preparing the report that is going back to the Maine Legislature in January. The report is on all this work we've been doing. Members of the Core Team let DHHS know that when the report is presented to the Legislature, we want to be there in support of Maine's Home Based and Community Care.

Maine PASA, through the work of it's Leadership Council; and Local 771, through its members that work with Maine PASA, have positioned themselves to be leaders on direct care worker issues as the Lean implementation plan gets worked through. Maine PASA and 771 leaders are working closely with DHHS in this process. This is a very exciting and encouraging time for PASA, 771, and the workers we are advocating for.

The Lean documents are available to the public online at: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/reports/ltc-services-adults.shtml

Please check out the site and see what we've been working on. There's a lot on the site pertaining to workers.

A new CNA's hopes for her classmates

2010-01-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

I was chosen by my classmates to give a speech at our CNA graduation.

I mentioned it to the Direct Care Alliance and they asked for a copy of it to publish on the DCA's blog.

Here is the link to the DCA's publication.

A new CNA's hopes for her classmates

Crabbit Old Woman

2010-01-03T09:01:00.002-05:00

The following poem was among the possessions of an aged lady who died in the geriatric ward of a hospital. There is no information available as to her name, when she died, or who she was. It is so appropriate for all nursing personnel, direct care workers, families, volunteers and all who come in contact with the elderly to read. At times, we all lose patience with the elderly. This should help us to have more sympathy and understanding of all elders.

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
   Are you thinking, when you look at me
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
   Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
   When you say in a loud voice - "I do wish you'd try."
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
   and forever is losing a stocking or shoe,
Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will
   With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill.
Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see?
   Then open your eyes, nurse, you're looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still!
   As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten with a father and mother,
   Brothers and sisters, who love one another -
A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet,
   Dreaming that soon now, a lover she'll meet,
A bride soon at twenty - my heart gives a leap.
   Remembering vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now I have young of my own
   Who need me to build a secure happy home;
A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
   Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
   But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn;
At fifty once more babies play around my knee,
   Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead.
   I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
   And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel -
   'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
   There is now a stone where I once had a heart,
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
   And now and again my battered heart swells,
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
   And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few - gone too fast.
   And accept the stark fact that nothing can last -
So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
   Not a crabbit old woman, look closer - see ME . . .

This poem was read at my CNA Graduation on December 21.
I thought it appropriate to post, as a reminder, that those in our care may be feeble, but they need to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. They are much more than what we see as elders.
Helen Hanson

An Open Letter to the Legislatures of All Fifty States

2010-01-03T08:22:00.002-05:00

Don't use it against us
that we become attached
to the people we serve,
that we love them
as we care for them.

Don't think you don't need to pay us
enough to have a home,
to make car payment,
to bring our children to the doctor…
don't think we'll do it
out of the goodness of our hearts –
even though our hearts are good.

Don't assume your mother
will keep her dignity today
that her colostomy bag
will be cleaned correctly,
that she'll be guided gently
through her shower,
that she'll take her medications
and eat her chicken soup.

Don't assume your Uncle John
will have a group home
where he can make choices
or there'll be someone to call
when your husband (or your wife)
comes home after their stroke.

Three million direct care workers
in our country today –
a million more needed
within a few short years.
Don't assume we'll be there
without your help.

David Moreau
2009 Voices Graduate
David724M@aol.com

House and Senate look to final health care talks

2009-12-27T17:22:00.004-05:00

How to pay for overhaul joins abortion and public option as key concerns

WASHINGTON - How many Americans will get subsidized medical coverage — plus who will pay for it — will be front-burner issues when Congress returns next month to complete President Barack Obama's health care remake.
Pocketbook concerns join abortion and whether Uncle Sam should peddle insurance as the top bones of contention for negotiators who must resolve difference between the House and Senate bills.

   The negotiations are the last chance for Democrats to shape the legislation to deliver concrete benefits to Americans skeptical that it will help control skyrocketing premiums as it expands coverage to millions more.
   "People will really begin to focus on some of the core issues that have received less attention," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the House leadership. "These are the bread-and-butter issues that will have the most significant impact on people's pocketbooks."
   Broadly speaking, both bills would gradually expand coverage, while banning objectionable insurance industry practices such as turning down people with health problems. Eventually, all Americans would be required to carry health insurance, with government subsidies to make premiums more affordable for many of them.

Employer-insured workers won't see big changes
   Those covered by big employers wouldn't see major changes, but individuals buying their own policies and small businesses would be able to shop for competitively priced plans in an insurance supermarket called an exchange. Medicare cuts and an assortment of taxes and fees would pay for the bills.
   Democrats are under pressure to reconcile the House and Senate versions before Obama's first State of the Union speech. Not yet scheduled, it's usually delivered in late January or early February. Republicans will wage legislative guerrilla warfare to delay an agreement.
   There's not much time, and apparently not much give either.
   Senate moderates say they won't vote for a bill that changes the basic terms they agreed to with Majority Leader Harry Reid.
   Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and conservative Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., have drawn a line against reintroducing a government-run insurance plan to compete with the likes of Aetna and Wellpoint. The House bill includes it, but Reid, D-Nev., needs every member of his 60-vote coalition to hold off GOP opponents.
   More difficult to solve is the issue of how to restrict taxpayer funding for abortions. Abortion opponents disagree among themselves over the Senate's approach. Abortion rights supporters are completely against the more restrictive House language and are divided on how the Senate has handled it.
   Obama will probably have to step in to settle disputes and keep things moving.
   Democrats have options on how to handle the negotiations. They could agree to a limited set of changes, allowing each chamber to pass identically amended bills. Or they could set up a formal conference committee to resolve differences. Leaders have made no decision yet. Naming a conference committee would signal that the issues have proven difficult.
   Yet the longer Democrats argue, the more suspicious the public becomes about remaking the health care system. "The making of salami and legislation is not pretty for people to watch," said Harvard professor Robert Blendon, who tracks public opinion on health care. "It has left them nervous that the interests of middle-income people are not being served."
   That's one reason leading Democrats are arguing for a focus on pocketbook issues in the homestretch.
   "There will be a certain amount of replaying issues that have been hot-button issues, but I think there will also be a refocusing, especially on cost," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D. "At the end of the day, when all of us go home, what we hear about is the ever-increasing, ever-escalating costs."

Scrutiny will center now on costs
   There are some signs of that already.
   Last week, Reid pledged on the Senate floor to close the coverage gap in Medicare prescription benefit — as the House bill already does. The message was aimed at seniors worried that Medicare cuts to hospitals and other providers will jeopardize their care.
   And Conrad said senators may go along with the House timetable for expanding coverage, which calls for starting subsidies in 2013, a year earlier than the Senate bill.
   The House bill provides coverage to 36 million, while the Senate covers 31 million. Lawmakers in the House want the Senate to move toward their number.
   Another priority will be to make sure the final bill promotes competition in the health insurance market, which in many states is dominated by one or two large carriers.
   Though it sounds arcane, a major problem for negotiators is whether the new insurance supermarket should be state-based, as in the Senate bill, or national, as the House calls for.
   Some advocates say a national approach provides stronger consumer protection.
   Finally, the issue of who to tax won't be easy.
   Unions are adamantly opposed to the Senate plan, which would impose a 40 percent tax on high-cost health insurance above $8,500 for an individual plan, $23,000 for families. Organized labor sees the tax on so-called Cadillac plans as a hit on its members, who have fought for years for better-than-average coverage. Unions are a core Democratic constituency and many House Democrats want to knock out the insurance tax.
   The Obama administration, however, supports such a tax. In a recent session with reporters, White House economic adviser Christina Romer called the tax "a very effective cost-growth containment mechanism," arguing that it will force people into more efficient plans.
   Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., wasn't buying it. "The most troublesome component of the Senate bill remains the 40 percent excise tax on high-cost health care premiums," he said. More than 190 House Democrats agree. Instead, they want to tax upper-income earners.

Health Bill to result in few changes for millions

2009-12-26T14:17:00.005-05:00

By REED ABELSON

Updated 5:05 a.m. ET, Fri., Dec. 25, 2009

Now that the Senate has caught up with the House by passing a sweeping health care bill, lawmakers are on the verge of extending coverage to the tens of millions of Americans who have no health insurance.
But what about the roughly 160 million workers and their dependents who already have health insurance through an employer? For many people, the result of the long, angry health care debate in Washington may be little more than more of the same.

As President Obama once promised, "If you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan."

That may be true even if you don't like your health plan. And no one seems to agree on whether the legislation will do much to reduce workers' continually rising out-of-pocket costs.

True, there is an important advantage for the working insured: more peace of mind for people who are worried about being laid off or would like to change jobs.

There are still many gaps to bridge between the House and Senate bills. But even before the House-Senate negotiations begin in January, both bills offer this assurance: If you lose your job or move to one that does not provide benefits, there should be better alternatives when shopping for your own coverage.

And both the House and Senate bills share the same basic goal of placing new rules on insurers so that even someone with a pre-existing medical condition, or a few years to go before qualifying for Medicare, should have a much easier time finding a relatively affordable policy.

The legislation should give most working people "the guarantee of security if their circumstances change," said Karen Davis, the president of the Commonwealth Fund, an independent research group that has studied the House and Senate bills.

Proposed changes
Of course, with more security will come more obligation. Congress seems likely to impose an individual mandate that will require people to be insured or face a financial penalty.

The other proposed changes for employer-provided coverage seem aimed mainly at workers whose benefits are either very generous or exceedingly skimpy.

On the generous end, about a fifth of employers now offer health plans that could be affected by a new 40 percent excise tax in the Senate bill on so-called Cadillac policies, according to an estimate by Mercer, a benefits consulting firm. That tax, to be imposed on annual premiums that exceeded $23,000 for family coverage, would go into effect in 2013. For example, if an insurer, or a self-insured employer, offers a plan costing $25,000, it must pay a 40 percent tax on the $2,000 that is above the threshold, or $800.

If the excise tax survives the House-Senate negotiations, it is hard to predict how employers will respond. But almost two-thirds of the employers Mercer recently surveyed said they were likely to reduce employee benefits rather than pay the tax.

"They're going to work hard to find a way to keep the cost of their plans below the threshold," said Beth Umland, Mercer's director of health and benefits research.

She predicts that many of those companies will rely on what she described as "the tried-and-true method" — passing along more of the costs to employees, in the form of higher deductibles and co-payments, in order to reduce overall premiums.

The public policy goal of the tax, in theory, is to have everyone spend less on medical care, even if it means using it less.

"We know people will use less care under such plans," said Paul Ginsburg, president of the Center for Studying Health System Change, a nonpartisan group.

What is not so clear, Mr. Ginsburg said, is whether people will make — or be able to make — rational choices between treatments that are not particularly effective and treatments that may help them from becoming sicker later.

'Minimal' impact
Congress also seems intent on establishing some minimum insurance standards so people with coverage could not end up with large piles of unpaid medical bills anyway. Both the House and Senate bills contain measures meant to eliminate lifetime maximum limits on coverage, for example.

But that might end up affecting relatively few people. Many plans limit how much they will pay out over a lifetime, but the ceilings are generally so high that the vast majority of people never hit them, according to a new study that used existing coverage for workers in California to compare the House and Senate proposals.

The "impact of this change will be minimal on most employers, but would be quite meaningful for the small number of employees who meet the limits," according to the study, conducted by policy analysts from the University of California, Berkeley, the benefits consultant Watson Wyatt Worldwide and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

Congress is also considering annual limits on out-of-pocket medical costs. The House seems to think $5,000 is as much as somebody should pay in medical bills, while the Senate has picked a figure closer to $6,000.

Under the Senate proposal, the new limits would not apply to self-insured employers — big companies that provide their own insurance and have enough employees to effectively spread the risk of paying any large claims.

Congress is also considering other minimum standards for insurance, like setting a baseline level of coverage for plans.

Still unclear is whether any of the new standards — the lifetime caps, the out-of-pocket maximums, the minimum coverage standards — would apply to employer-based policies.

Because most big companies already offer plans that would meet the minimum standards being set, their workers would probably be unaffected by the new rules in any case.

But it is a different story for small businesses. Much of the legislation is aimed at making it easier for them to provide affordable coverage by trying to make changes to the insurance market.

Wider choice of plans
People working for small businesses — an estimated 40 percent of the private labor force — could see their coverage affected. And if their employer decided to use one of the new insurance exchanges, workers might have a much broader choice of plans than they do now.

The premiums a small-business employee are charged could also change, especially if that company's work force is particularly young and healthy. Those people could wind up paying more, Mr. Ginsburg said, because the legislation tries to spread the risk of covering employees with expensive medical conditions by setting new rules over how insurers can determine premiums.

The real unknown, of course, is whether any final legislation will accelerate the rise in premiums or slow it. At least one impartial analysis, by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, concluded that the legislation was not going to have much of an effect on the cost of premiums either way.

There are plenty of doomsayers who argue that the cost of expanding coverage to millions of people, many of whom will need help to pay their premiums, is going to be borne by everyone else. But there are others, including Mr. Obama, who argue that the legislation will make health insurance more affordable than it would be otherwise. "If we don't pass it," he recently said during a television interview, "here's the guarantee — your premiums will go up, your employers are going to load up more costs on you."

This story, "As Health Bill Advances, Few Changes Seen for Millions," first appeared in The New York Times.

Copyright © 2009 The New York Times

Health Care Reform attempts from the past

2009-12-24T16:06:00.001-05:00

Here's a timeline at the attempts of health care reform in the past.

Senate passes historic health care legislation

2009-12-24T15:54:00.002-05:00

Unusual Christmas Eve vote symbolic in ongoing debate

updated 9:14 a.m. ET, Thurs., Dec . 24, 2009

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a clinic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama's legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country's history.

The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."

The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage. The Senate's bill must still be merged with legislation passed by the House before Obama could sign a final bill in the new year. There are significant differences between the two measures but Democrats say they've come too far now to fail.

Both bills would extend health insurance to more than 30 million Americans.

Speaking not long after the Senate passed the $871 billion bill by a 60-39 vote, Obama welcomed the vote as bringing America "toward the end of a nearly century-long struggle." He said presidents since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 have been trying unsuccessfully to overhaul medical care.

Standing in the State Room of the White House before leaving on a holiday trip to his home state of Hawaii, Obama said the measure the Senate passed "includes the toughest measures ever taken to hold the insurance industry accountable."

'It's merely the beginning' Vicki Kennedy, the widow of the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, who made health reform his life's work, watched the vote from the gallery. So did Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the longest-serving House member and a champion of universal health care his entire career.

"This morning isn't the end of the process, it's merely the beginning. We'll continue to build on this success to improve our health system even more," Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said before the vote. "But that process cannot begin unless we start today ... there may not be a next time."

At a news conference a few moments later, Reid said the vote "brings us one step closer to making Ted Kennedy's dream a reality."

The Nevadan said that "every step of this long process has been an enormous undertaking."

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, said he "very happy to see people getting health care they could not get."

It was the Senate's first Christmas Eve vote since 1895, when the matter at hand was a military affairs bill concerning employment of former Confederate officers, according to the Senate Historical Office.

The House passed its own measure in November. The White House and Congress have now come further toward the goal of a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's health care system than any of their predecessors.

The legislation would ban the insurance industry from denying benefits or charging higher premiums on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. The Congressional Budget Office predicts the bill will reduce deficits by $130 billion over the next 10 years, an estimate that assumes lawmakers carry through on hundreds of billions of dollars in planned cuts to insurance companies and doctors, hospitals and others who treat Medicare patients.

For the first time, the government would require nearly every American to carry insurance, and subsidies would be provided to help low-income people to do so. Employers would be induced to cover their employees through a combination of tax credits and penalties. The legislation costs nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and is paid for by a combination of taxes, fees and cuts to Medicare.

Republicans were withering in their criticism of what they deemed a budget-busting government takeover. If the measure were worthwhile, contended Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., "they wouldn't be rushing it through Congress on Christmas Eve."

House Minority Leader John Boehner assailed the bill moments after passage.

"Not even Ebenezer Scrooge himself could devise a scheme as cruel and greedy as Democrats' government takeover of health care," the Ohio Republican said in a statement.

"Senator Reid's health care bill increases premiums for families and small businesses, raises taxes during a recession, cuts seniors' Medicare benefits, adds to our skyrocketing debt, and puts bureaucrats in charge of decisions that should be made by patients and doctors," he said. "The bill also authorizes taxpayer-funded abortions, violating long-standing federal policy. It's no coincidence that the more the American people learn about this monstrosity, the more they oppose it.

The occasion was moving for many who'd followed Kennedy, who died in August.

"He's having a merry Christmas in Heaven," Sen. Paul Kirk, D-Mass., appointed to fill Kennedy's seat, told reporters after the tally.

Kirk said he was "humbled to be here with the honor of casting essentially his vote."

Said Dingell: "This is for me, this is for my dad, this is for the country."

Reid nailed the last votes down in a rush of dealmaking in the last week that is now coming under attack because of special provisions obtained by a number of senators. In Nebraska, home to conservative Democrat Ben Nelson, the Democrats' crucial 60th vote, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of a planned Medicaid expansion in perpetuity, the only state getting that deal.

Negotiations between the House and Senate to reconcile differences between the two bills are expected to begin as soon as next week. The House bill has stricter limits on abortion than the Senate, and unlike the House, the Senate measure omits a government-run insurance option, which liberals favored to apply pressure on private insurers but Democratic moderates opposed as an unwarranted federal intrusion. Obama has signaled he will sign a bill even if it lacks that provision.

2009-12-19T07:53:00.002-05:00

Christmas Greetings

I hope this finds my readers having a wonderful Christmas season.

Local 771's Election Results

2009-12-02T13:47:00.003-05:00

Local 771 Officers for 2010

Helen Hanson, President

Alpha One

Joseph Berry, Vice President, Delegate

Alpha One

Ted Rippy, Secretary, Delegate

Alpha One

Patricia Crowell, Treasurer, Alternate

Alpha One

Carol Cammack, Delegate

Home Care for Maine

Dave Levasseur, Delegate

Alpha One

Janet (Dixie) Lewis, Delegate

Home Care for Maine

Sherrie Rippy, Delegate

Alpha One

Juanita Burtt, Alternate

Home Care for Maine

Roxann Gargac, Alternate

Home Care for Maine

Kyle Hofman, Alternate

Alpha One

Welcome to all 771's officers, delegates and alternates.

Playing Hard to Get: Maine's Senators Suddenly Back in Play on HCR?

2009-12-02T13:31:00.003-05:00

Brian Beutler | December 2, 2009, 9:55AM

What a difference a week makes. After casting votes to kill the Senate health care bill, Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are meeting with high-level White House officials as Democrats try to reach sixty votes.

When Harry Reid announced that his health care bill would include a public option, but that Washington would allow individual states to opt out, it left him basically no wiggle room. He lost the cautious support of Snowe and suddenly needed to run the table in his caucus.

In the hours and days afterward, it became clear that a clean sweep would be difficult, if not impossible. Days before Thanksgiving recess, leaders began negotiating with conservative Democratic hold outs on a possible compromise, modeled on Snowe's trigger plan. And if you wanted some evidence that, on balance, the discussions are currently favoring the centrists, Tuesday offered a pretty clear picture of that.

Snowe in particular continues to speak of health care reform as a project she's a part of. Yesterday, defying her party's own talking points, she told The Hill that a new CBO report, regarding the impact of the Senate legislation on insurance premiums, is encouraging news for reformers.

The CBO report, she says, indicates that the legislation "makes strides, without question" toward extending affordable coverage. On this score she sees room for improvement: "We have to be sure that we are providing the most affordable plans to Americans, and that's not abundantly clear at this point," she said. "That's what's of concern to me."

But it's not just her. Susan Collins, Snowe's Maine colleague, told reporters yesterday that she's been meeting with Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, and DeParle's deputy Jeanne Lambrew.

Those negotiations are ongoing, and Collins is a tougher sell than Snowe, but for the first time in weeks Collins suggested she may be in play.

"I made very clear that I could not support the bill as it's currently drafted, and that there would have to be substantial changes, but I certainly hope that that will be possible," Collins told reporters. "I think there is unease on both sides of the aisle about specific provisions in this bill, and that it's possible that we can come up with alternatives that will garner bipartisan support."

Collins says she's "not a fan," of the latest public option compromise being discussed. Still, one Democratic aide said Collins' vote might even be more gettable than some of the recalcitrant conservative Democrats.

As always in Congress, the situation is very fluid. Momentum shifts directions very suddenly. But the very fact that so much focus is being placed on these two women should be writing on the wall to public option supporters.

from talkingpointsmemo.com

Senate Bill Maintains Direct-Care Worker Provisions

2009-12-02T13:23:00.001-05:00

Posted on01 December 2009

Matt Ozga - PHInational.org

Following months of intense negotiations and extensive input from stakeholders, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) and other Democratic leaders presented the blended Senate health insurance reform bill on November 18.

The new legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would extend coverage to 94 percent of Americans.

PHI’s side-by-side chart (pdf) provides an update of the new Senate bill and compares the House and Senate provisions.

Some of the most significant provisions of the bill include a public insurance option that gives states the choice to opt out, an excise tax on high-cost insurance plans offered by employers, and a Medicare payroll tax on people with high-incomes (individuals with annual incomes above $200,000 and couples above $250,000).

There are also many provisions — some related to health coverage, others to long-term care services — that could have significant impact on direct-care workers. The major changes since the Senate Finance and HELP committees released their proposals this summer include:

Expansion of mandatory Medicaid coverage to include all non-elderly Americans with income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), which is $24,352 for a family of three. (While affordability premium credits for individuals between 150 and 400 percent FPL have been scaled back, out-of-pocket spending has been capped to protect individuals’ level of cost sharing at each income tier.) With median annual wages of $17,000, many direct-care workers would gain affordable comprehensive coverage through Medicaid.
Inclusion of the CLASS Act — a new, voluntary, public long-term care insurance program to purchase community-living assistance services and support for individuals with functional limitations.
Advancing the establishment of core training competencies for personal care attendants through three-year demonstrations in six states.

Preliminary Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates of the blended bill project a cost of $848 billion, a figure that would reduce the federal deficit by about $130 billion over the next 10 years.

The next step is floor consideration, where the entire Senate will debate and vote on the bill. Debate began earlier this week.

Delays in CBO analyses have led to increasing speculation that work on health reform could continue into the beginning of next year.

Bruising debate awaits health bill in Senate

2009-11-22T10:51:00.005-05:00

Legislation moves to floor after Thanksgiving as Dems overcome key hurdle Associated Press updated 7:17 am ET, Sun. Nov. 22, 2009

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks Saturday after the U.S. Senate voted to begin debate on health care legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., right, and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, look on. photo by Jose Luis Magana/AP WASHINGTON - A bruising debate on health care awaits the Senate after Thanksgiving now that the historic legislation has cleared a key hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama. The bill would extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally. In the final minutes of a daylong session, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused Republicans on Saturday of trying to stifle a historic debate the nation needed. GOP warns of ‘unsustainable debt’ The Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said the vote was anything but procedural — casting it as a referendum on the bill itself, which he said would raise taxes, cut Medicare and create a "massive and unsustainable debt." Two final Democratic holdouts, Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, announced they would join in clearing the way for a full debate. "It is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option," said Landrieu, who won $100 million in the legislation to help her state pay the costs of health care for the poor. Landrieu and Lincoln, who faces a tough re-election next year, both stressed they were not committing in advance to vote for the legislation that ultimately emerges from next month's debate. Of particular contentiousness to moderates is a provision for the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies, subject to state approval — a part of Reid's bill expected to come under significant pressure as the debate unfolds. Positive response from White House White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the president was gratified by the vote, which he says "brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance, and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it." Vice President Joe Biden told Iowa Democrats that the Senate handed the president a big victory with its decision. "Tonight we have more momentum than we've ever had in the history of health care discussions,'" Biden told about 1,000 Democrats in Des Moines. "I see the special interests raising tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat our agenda," Biden said. "We've never thought change would be easy. You all knew change would be hard. It's hard to change the direction of a nation that's been adrift for at least eight years." The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide subsidies to those who couldn't afford it. Large companies could incur costs if they did not provide coverage to their workforce. The insurance industry would come under significant new regulation under the bill, which would first ease and then ban the practice of denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions. Congressional budget analysts put the legislation's cost at $979 billion over a decade and said it would reduce deficits over the same period while extending coverage to 94 percent of the eligible population. Kennedy’s legacy figures prominently Memories of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a long-time proponent of health care, figured prominently Saturday night. Sen. Paul Kirk of Massachusetts, appointed to office this fall after Kennedy's death, said he spoke for those "who for so many years revered and loved and elected and re-elected" him. Sen. Chris Dodd of Conn. referred to Kennedy's "lifelong quest" for national health care and said "we will pay him the highest compliment by fulfilling that" goal. Reid said he had talked with Kennedy's widow, Vicki, about the vote and they both agreed "Ted would be happy." © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Moderate Dems wooed in crucial health vote

2009-11-21T16:55:00.003-05:00

Key lawmaker annouces he'll vote Saturday to begin debate on the bill Associated Press updated 9:20 p.m. ET, Nov. 20, 2009 WASHINGTON - Suitably opaque, Section 2006 takes up only a few dozen lines in a sweeping health care bill that runs to 2,074 pages and mentions neither Sen. Mary Landrieu nor her state of Louisiana. But the section's purpose is indisputable: to deliver $100 million or more in federal funds to the state. And in the process it could clear the way for one of three moderate Democratic fence-sitters — Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas are the others — to help propel the legislation past its initial hurdle in a crucial Saturday vote. Nelson, Landrieu and Lincoln emerged several days ago as the last public holdouts among 58 Democrats and two independents whose votes Majority Leader Harry Reid and the White House must have to overcome the Republicans' attempt to strangle the bill before serious debate can begin. Each has moved carefully with an eye on home-state voters. And inside the Senate, each has taken advantage of the political leverage newly available. Alone among the three, Nelson issued a statement Friday ending any lingering public suspense about his intentions. "The Senate should start trying to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little for Nebraskans," he said, adding his decision should not be seen as an indication of how he will vote on the legislation itself. Nelson had been publicly signaling his intentions for more than a week, and his words presumably came as no surprise to Reid or the White House, which issued a statement Friday saying the bill "provides the necessary health reforms that the administration seeks." Currying votes This sort of political minuet can be delicate, as shown when the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, said earlier on Friday that Lincoln had already confided to Reid how she planned to vote. Republicans, eager to scuttle the bill — and defeat Lincoln in 2010 — instantly accused the two-term senator of telling Democratic party leaders before informing her own constituents in Arkansas. "No other senator speaks for Senator Lincoln. She is still reviewing the bill," declared the senator's spokeswoman, Leah Vest DiPietro, adding her boss had not yet made up her mind. For his part, Durbin sought to quickly close the loop with a statement saying he had been unclear and misinterpreted. As for Nelson, several officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had insisted Reid omit from the bill any change in the insurance industry's protection from federal antitrust law. The House version of the legislation would expose the industry to scrutiny by both the Justice Department's antitrust lawyers and the Federal Trade Commission. Reid, who spoke out strongly in favor of the change in antitrust treatment earlier in the fall, left it out of the bill he drafted over several weeks and unveiled on Wednesday. Eyes on Lincoln Lincoln has been the most close-mouthed about her intention. As a committee chairman, she is the most powerful of the group. As the only one of the three seeking re-election next year, she is also the most politically vulnerable. In public, she has asked that the bill be available for 72 hours before the vote occurs. In private, her demands have been more substantive, according to officials who did not describe them. She is virtually certain to be criticized no matter what her vote. After the House cleared its version of the legislation this month, a conservative group began airing commercials criticizing Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Ark., for voting in its favor. At the same time, MoveOn.org, a liberal organization, slammed another one of the state's lawmakers, Rep. Mike Ross, for opposing it. A hint: At home, Lincoln has suggested her vote will be influenced by former President Bill Clinton, who was Arkansas governor for 12 years before winning the White House. Clinton recently met privately with Senate Democrats, telling them that passing an imperfect bill was better than nothing. "We don't ever go to Washington with the idea that we're going to create a work of art," Lincoln said afterward. "It's got to be a work in progress." She and the other moderates face pressure from business groups opposed to the legislation. In a statement Friday the Business Roundtable, which represents big company CEOs, said the Senate bill "will not effect the needed changes to measurably improve the American health care system." Democrats and the White House had seized on a report by the same group last week concluding that some of the provisions under consideration by Congress had the potential to tame runaway medical inflation. Section 2006 for Landrieu? Of the three centrists, Landrieu has been the clearest about her intentions, and her interests ranged beyond health insurance to the oysters for which Louisiana is famous. When the Food and Drug Administration proposed banning sales of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during warm weather months, Landrieu and others objected. A week ago, the agency thought better of the idea and shelved the plan in favor of further study. "I'm really thankful that they listened," said Landrieu, who had met with FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to discuss the issue. Over recent weeks, Landrieu has issued a string of statements outlining the areas she wanted addressed for the benefit of her constituents — issues that could be dealt with only after health legislation made it to the Senate floor. After meeting with Reid almost a month ago, she mentioned the "unique challenges Louisiana is facing in terms of Medicaid." In a Senate speech and statement, she noted that Louisiana has the highest breast cancer death rate in the country and the lowest female life expectancy of any state. And she said, "Unless something is done, annual health care costs for small firms over the next 10 years are expected to more than double to reach $339 billion in 2018." Landrieu can point to provisions in the legislation that are designed to attack all three problems. They include Section 2006. Reading it is of little assistance. "Special adjustment to FMAP Determination for Certain States recovering from a Major Disaster" is the title, and about two pages of similarly indecipherable legalese follows. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it will send an additional $100 million to Louisiana to help it cover costs for Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Should Landrieu decide to side with Republicans this weekend, she would also be voting to deny her state those funds. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Democrats have 60 votes to advance health bill

2009-11-21T16:26:00.002-05:00

Two remaining Dem holdouts announce they will vote 'yes' to begin debate Associated Press updated 23 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders secured the last votes needed to move ahead on historic health care reform legislation, clearing the way for a Saturday night showdown on President Barack Obama's top domestic policy initiative. In long-awaited speeches, two centrist Democratic senators said they would stand with their party and vote "yes" on the crucial test procedural vote despite deep reservations with parts of the 2,074-page bill to remake the U.S. health care system. "The truth is this issue is very complex. There is no easy fix and it's imperative that we build on what's already working in health care in America," Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas told her Senate colleagues. Earlier, Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said she would vote "yes" on the procedural vote to determine whether debate can go forward on the Senate floor on Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care reform bill. Democratic leaders were optimistic they now have the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to go forward. The Senate's 40 Republicans are unanimously opposed. "I've decided that there are enough significant reforms and safeguards in this bill to move forward, but much more work needs to be done," Landrieu said, with the 8 p.m. EST (0100 GMT) vote looming. But the two moderate Democrats both cautioned that while they have agreed to allow debate to continue, their vote Saturday does not commit them to supporting the final bill. At a 10-year cost approaching $1 trillion, Reid's legislation is designed to extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny benefits to people with preexisting medical conditions, and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally. Almost everyone would be required to purchase insurance, and billions in new taxes would be levied on insurers and high-income Americans to help extend coverage. During Saturday's debate on the bill, Democrats called a revamp of the nation's health care system long overdue. The U.S. is the only major developed country that does not provide comprehensive medical coverage for its people, and Obama campaigned on a promise to change that. "The country suffers when there is a failure to act on serious challenges that millions of ordinary Americans face in their daily lives," Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said during the rare weekend session. United in opposition, Republicans cast the bill as a costly government takeover of the health care system, built on budget gimmicks. "Move over, Bernie Madoff. Tip your hat to a trillion-dollar scam," said Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri, referring to the mastermind of a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. The action in the Senate comes two weeks after the House of Representatives approved a health overhaul bill of its own on a 220-215 vote. Major health care reform legislation has now advanced further through Congress than at any time since the 1960s when the government-run Medicare health insurance program for seniors was enacted. After the vote Saturday night, senators will leave for a Thanksgiving holiday recess. Upon their return, assuming Democrats prevail on Saturday's vote, they will launch into weeks or more of unpredictable debate on the health care bill, with numerous amendments expected from both sides of the aisle and more 60-vote hurdles along the way. Democratic centrists from conservative states are particularly wary of provisions to have a government-run plan compete with private insurers to drive down coverage costs. Efforts to insert stricter language to bar federal funds from being used to cover abortions has also become a divisive issue. Senate leaders hope to pass their bill by the end of the year. If that happens, January would bring work to reconcile the House and Senate versions. If a compromise can be reached, it would then have to be approved by both chambers of Congress before a final package could land on Obama's desk to sign. The House and Senate bills have many similarities, including the new requirements on insurers and the creation of new purchasing marketplaces called exchanges where self-employed individuals and small businesses could go to shop for and compare coverage plans. One option in the exchanges would be a new government-offered plan, something that's opposed by private insurers and business groups. Differences include requirements for employers. The House bill would require medium and large businesses to cover their employees, while the Senate bill would not require them to offer coverage but would make them pay a fee if the government ends up subsidizing employees' coverage. Another difference is in how they're paid for. The Senate bill includes a tax on high-value insurance policies that's not part of the House bill, while the House would levy a new income tax on upper-income Americans that's not in the Senate measure. The Senate measure also raises the Medicare payroll tax on income above $200,000 annually for individuals and $250,000 for couples. Both bills rely on more than $400 billion in cuts to Medicare. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Uninsured ER patients twice as likely to die

2009-11-21T16:10:00.003-05:00

New study highlights disparity of care for those who don't have coverage Associated Press updated 4:00 p.m. ET, Mon., Nov . 16, 2009 CHICAGO - Uninsured patients with traumatic injuries, such as car crashes, falls and gunshot wounds, were almost twice as likely to die in the hospital as similarly injured patients with health insurance, according to a troubling new study. The findings by Harvard University researchers surprised doctors and health experts who have believed emergency room care was equitable. "This is another drop in a sea of evidence that the uninsured fare much worse in their health in the United States," said senior author Dr. Atul Gawande, a Harvard surgeon and medical journalist. The study, appearing in the November issue of Archives of Surgery, comes as Congress is debating the expansion of health insurance coverage to millions more Americans. It could add fodder to that debate. The researchers couldn't pin down the reasons behind the differences they found. The uninsured might experience more delays being transferred from hospital to hospital. Or they might get different care. Or they could have more trouble communicating with doctors. The hospitals that treat them also could have fewer resources. "Those hospitals tend to be financially strapped, not have the same level of staffing, not have the same level of surgeons and testing and equipment," Gawande said. "That also is likely a major contributor." Gawande favors health care reform and has frequently written about the inequities of the current system. The researchers took into account the severity of the injuries and the patients' race, gender and age. After those adjustments, they still found the uninsured were 80 percent more likely to die than those with insurance — even low-income patients insured by the government's Medicaid program. "I'm really surprised," said Dr. Eric Lavonas of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a doctor at Denver Health Medical Center. "It's well known that people without health insurance don't get the same quality of health care in this country, but I would have thought that this group of patients would be the least vulnerable." Private hospitals more likely to transfer uninsured Some private hospitals are more likely to transfer an uninsured patient than an insured patient, said Lavonas, who wasn't involved in the new research. "Sometimes we get patients transferred and we suspect they're being transferred because of payment issues," he said. "The transferring physician says, 'We're not able to handle this."' Federal law requires hospital ERs to treat all patients who are medically unstable. But hospitals can transfer patients, or send them away, once they're stabilized. A transfer could worsen a patient's condition by delaying treatment. The researchers analyzed data on nearly 690,000 U.S. patients from 2002 through 2006. Burn patients were not included, nor were people who were treated and released, or dead on arrival. In the study, the overall death rate was 4.7 percent, so most emergency room patients survived their injuries. The commercially insured patients had a death rate of 3.3 percent. The uninsured patients' death rate was 5.7 percent. Those rates were before the adjustments for other risk factors. The findings are based on an analysis of data from the National Trauma Data Bank, which includes more than 900 U.S. hospitals. "We have to take the findings very seriously," said lead author Dr. Heather Rosen, a surgery resident at Los Angeles County Hospital, who found similar results when she analyzed children's trauma data for an earlier study. "This affects every person, of every age, of every race." © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Milbridge Healthcare Workers In Search Of New Contract

2009-11-18T20:19:00.003-05:00

by Rob Poindexter · Nov 16th 2009 WABI-TV 5 Workers at a healthcare facility in Milbridge say their being treated unfairly by ownership and they've decided to let their voices be heard. They've decided to take their frustration to the streets. LaVerne Coopersmith, a CNA at the facility, says their demands are not that unreasonable. "Maybe a 2% raise and a signed contract, that doesn't seem like asking too much, it seems fair," she says. The workers say management got a pay raise and they want what they say is fair. Dr. Stephen Weisberger is the owner of the facility and he told TV5 the following over the phone. "To my knowledge, no raises have been given to any administrator or manager since the wage freeze. These are tough times. My workers are fantastic and we're working towards a solution that is financially viable for them." Workers claim management received their pay increases just a month before their own wages were frozen and they say that isn't right. "We realize the economy is bad," says Marie Leighton a CRMA at the facility, "but I guess if management hadn't gotten theirs, it wouldn't have been so bad, but they got theirs in April and we got a freeze in May and I don't think that's quite fair." Patients and their families say the staff here works hard and deserves fair treatment. Jackie Jellison's mother is being treated in the Narraguagus Healthcare Facility and she says the care there is first rate. "The care that these ladies have for these residents is wonderful. I mean they go out of their way and like Marie said, they stop in on their off time to see how patients are." The protestors say they will continue to picket as long as it takes. The two sides are scheduled to sit down at the negotiating table on December 4th. Video for this story is available through this link.

Local 771 - November 21, 2009 Agenda

2009-11-18T19:58:00.002-05:00

MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 Local 771 Chapter Meeting November 21, 2009, 10 am to Noon

MSEA Headquarters, 65 State Street, Augusta, Maine

10:00 Welcome Introductions 10:05 Review Minutes from October meeting 10:10 Treasurer’s Report 10:15 Membership Update 10:20 771 Election of 2010 Officers 10:50 MSEA-SEIU Annual Convention Disaffiliation with SEIU 11:00 771 By-Laws: Elections 11:10 Legislative Update Long-Term Care System LEAN Process Worker Taskforce Group, Monday, 11/30, 1pm DHHS 11:25 Bargaining Alpha One 11:40 KVO Annual Fundraising Campaign 771 wish to make a donation? 11:50 Downeast Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Local 5073 Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility Picket 11:55 Next Steps Next Local 771 Meeting _________________________ 12:00 Adjourn Be sure to check out your Local’s blog: http://www.unionmaine771news.blogspot.com/. If you need to contact me, Helen Hanson, helen.hnsn@gmail.com.

Minutes October 24, 2009 Meeting

2009-11-18T19:52:00.002-05:00

LOCAL 771 CHAPTER MEETING 10/24/2009 MINUTES Attendance: Members: Helen Hanson, Joe Berry, Ted Rippy, Juanita Burtt, Roxann Gargac, Dixie Lewis, Dee Dee Strout Local 771 Field Rep: CJ Betit Local 771 Organizers: Jay Economy MSEA-SEIU Retiree: Phil Wolley MSEA-SEIU 1989 President: Bruce Hodgdon Review of Minutes of 9/19/09 Chapter Meeting Helen Hanson distributed the minutes of the 9/19/09 Chapter Meeting and they were reviewed and accepted. The one change to the minutes was in the Alpha One Bargaining Update that Dennis Fitzgibbons had not been present at the 9/10/09 meeting. National Direct Care Partnership & Voices Institute Local 771 members Ted Rippy and Dee Dee Strout reported on their attendance at the Voices Institute for leadership training in Wisconsin during the week of September 27th.Ted and Dee Dee both reported that this was an invaluable experience in learning how to lobby for change. The Direct Care Alliance is working hard to professionalize the DCW field, and DCW’s from 16 different states were in attendance. Ted and Dee Dee said they saw a lot of change and growth during the week, and very much appreciated the scholarships from MSEASEIU. Ted and Dee Dee will report back to MSEASEIU’s Board of Directors in November regarding their experiences at the Voices Institute. Treasurer’s Report In Pat Crowell’s absence, Helen Hanson reported Local 771 currently has $896.61 in it’s savings account and $105.57 in it’s checking account. LD 1078 Update Helen Hanson reported that the DHHS Lean Study of the long term care system is well under way. There are 18 members on the core committee ( including Helen) , and that Dee Dee Strout, Ted Rippy, and Helen will also be working on the Worker’s Committee which begins meeting on Oct. 26, 2009. Helen related that the study seems to be showing that the system is too top heavy administratively and that the clearing house agency of Elder Independence of Me ( EIM) is being looked at very closely. MSEA-SEIU 1989 Convention 2009 Local 771’s delegates for convention will be Helen Hanson, Joe Berry, Ted Rippy, Sherri Rippy, Dave Levasseur, Carol Ann Cammack, and Dixie Lewis. Carol Ann was elected as a delegate at an emergency chapter meeting held at the Area One Caucus on October 3, 2009. There was a general discussion of the upcoming convention and President Hodgdon reviewed resolutions that were currently scheduled to be raised at convention, including a resolution to consider disaffiliation from SEIU. Local 771 is strongly opposes this disaffiliation resolution, as SEIU has been a strong advocate for health care workers and many of our members take advantage of the health and dental insurance plans offered by SEIU. Pre-Retirement Planning Retiree Phil Wooley gave a presentation on the importance of pre-retirement planning, and reviewed the pre-retirement committee’s training provided to state employees. He emphasized that everyone’s retirement is different and you can not begin planning too early. Phil distributed a survey for members to complete and return. Alpha One Bargaining Update Field Rep CJ Betit reported that the one remaining issue to be resolved in the new A1 contract is the decision of when the closed shop status will go into effect. This issue should be resolved shortly. Labor Management Committee Dixie Lewis and Carol Ann Cammack will serve on the HC4M Labor Management Committee with CJ Betit. Issues to be discussed include scheduling and fill-ins. HC4M has told CJ that if a DCW calls in for a fill in the worker will not get a call back unless they cannot fill the request. This is something DCW’s had not been aware of and expecting and not getting a call back has been very frustrating. CJ reported that on he had received some good news in that HC4M has been over budget in hours of service delivered in July 1491-1403, August 1543-1403 and September 1554-1403. Next Meeting November 21, 2009 , 10AM – Noon at MSEA Headquarters in Augusta. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. Chapter elections for officers and delegates will be held at this meeting.

Why So Many of Us Don't Have Health Care Insurance

2009-11-14T16:52:00.004-05:00

Don Krutsinger, 2009 Voices Institute graduate November 11, 2009 I work as a direct support professional with developmentally disabled adults in residential settings. One thing I have in common with just about all my coworkers is that we need to work more than 40 hours a week to make ends meet – and even so, too many of us can’t afford our employers’ health care coverage. With the recent cutbacks by our state (Minnesota), most of our residential programs have cut out overtime and cut down the number of full-time positions, reducing the number of positions that receive health insurance and paid time off. That means nearly all of us have to work two to three jobs to make ends meet. Chances are, we don’t get enough hours from any one of them to qualify for health insurance. That’s a difficult, demoralizing way to live, especially for those of us who are dedicated to direct support work and have invested years of our lives in our careers. I’ve been a direct support professional for 21 years. From 1988 to 2004, I worked in residential and day services programs in Kansas. I received a social work degree and worked as a targeted case manager in Iowa. In 2006, I moved to Minnesota to become a group home supervisor. My supervisory experience has taught me how difficult it is to train and retain quality staff. I’ve found the best way of supporting our residential programs is to float between homes, filling in where I’m needed because someone couldn’t show up that day. For a while, I worked full-time at another residential program on a day shift while floating part-time at my group homes, but the other program had to eliminate their full-time day shift positions after the cutbacks. I now work full-time in my float position while working part-time during the day as a personal care attendant. As a PCA, I help an elderly man with multiple sclerosis get up in the morning. I also help a professional man with cerebral palsy use the restroom at his workplace twice a day. Although I work for fairly good agencies that would provide some benefits if I were full-time, the distance between jobs and the short hours of support with each client make it difficult to put in 40 hours I’d need to be eligible for health insurance – and to afford the premiums. A few of the people receiving PCA services need assistance during every waking hour or around the clock. You might think the PCAs who work with these individuals would qualify for health insurance, but the cutbacks have changed that too. There are now limits on how many hours a week PCAs can work, so agencies don’t have to pay overtime. Some people’s hours are so limited that they don’t qualify for health insurance either. It wasn’t easy to make it on one PCA job before the cutbacks either, but we had it better than most. The only reason we qualify for overtime is that Minnesota requires it, but less than half of the 50 states say home care workers are entitled to overtime pay. If you live in one of the others you’re out of luck. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act, as interpreted by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), does not cover workers who provide “companionship services” to people in their homes. http://www.directcarealliance.org/index.cfm?pageId=538#no_minimum_wage The DOL ruling was challenged in court by Evelyn Coke, a home care worker who had been paid only $7 an hour throughout her 30-year career, receiving no overtime pay even though she worked regularly over 70 hours a week. She made it all the way to the Supreme Court, but the court ruled against her. This is an issue that can and must be decided on the federal level. We need legislation to include all home care workers in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. We need to pay people fairly for the work they have done, so home care workers can afford health insurance and other basic benefits. Until we do, we won’t be able to find and keep enough quality personal care attendants to meet the needs of the elders and people with disabilities who want to remain in their homes. originally published in the Direct Care Alliance e-newsletter

Local 771 holding Elections

2009-11-14T15:22:00.003-05:00

Local 771 is holding its elections on Saturday, November 21st, at MSEA headquarters at 65 State Street in Augusta. The meeting will run from 10 to noon. Anyone interested in being an officer or a delegate for 771 can file a nomination. You can do this in person, at the meeting. You can email your nomination to me, helen.hnsn@gmail.com or to Jay Economy at organizing@mseaseiu.org. Any member of 771 in good standing can run.

Error reported with Local 5073 and Narraguagus Bay Health Care

2009-11-14T15:20:00.002-05:00

I reported an error with Local 5073 and the Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility. Local 5073 is not ending their picket. They will be back out on the picket line on Monday. Please keep these workers in your thoughts and prayers.

Local 5073 decides to End Picket at Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility

2009-11-14T09:56:00.002-05:00

Downeast Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Local 5073 decide to End Picket The picketing by members of Local 5073 has officially come to an end. After the owner of Narraguagus Bay Health asked the union "what would stop the whole uproar", union leaders gave him a list of issues. He said he would look into them. Union leaders made a good faith decision to stop the picketing. Mediation starts on December 4th.

March for Health Care Justice

2009-11-12T06:08:00.003-05:00

March for Health Care Justice, today, noon, Kennebec County Courthouse to Senator Snowe's office. Tell Senator Snowe that Athem's suing the state because they were not granted the 18% rate increase for policy holders they asked for. The state told them they could charge 10% more. Anthem says it cannot live with a 3% increase in profits so it is suing the state. Hope you can be there!

Bill Clinton urges passage of health care bill

2009-11-10T16:10:00.006-05:00

Former president calls reform "an economic imperative"

Associated Press

updated 25 minutes ago

Former President Bill Clinton arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.

Charles Dharapak/AP

WASHINGTON - Former President Bill Clinton told anxious Senate Democrats on Tuesday to pass a health care bill soon because the U.S. economy can't resist the toxic combination of exorbitant medical costs and nearly 50 million uninsured for much longer.

"My argument was that this is an economic imperative," Clinton said after the closed-door meeting.

Addressing Democrats' insecurities about the complex legislation, Clinton said he told the senators "there is no perfect bill — you'll always have unintended consequences. There will be amendments to this next year. But the worst thing to do is nothing."

Clinton was the last Democratic president to attempt to revamp the health care system to cover all Americans and try to control costs. The spectacular collapse of his plan probably cost Democrats control of Congress in 1994, but Clinton is still admired for having tackled the issue. He went on to win a second term in office.

"People trust him," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the architects of the current Senate health care bill.

"His argument was that getting the best bill is not only good for the people, it's the best politics," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., one of a clutch of moderates who hold the fate of the legislation in their hands.

Clinton said he hoped all the senators understood his bottom line: "It's not important to be perfect here," he said. "It's important to act, to move, to start the ball rolling."

The House passed its health care bill last Saturday by a narrow 220-215 vote. In Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is working on a final Democratic draft. But the combination of divided Democrats, and Republicans determined to force delays under the Senate's arcane rules, is making it less likely that President Barack Obama will get a bill this year.

"Our goal is to make sure it's out of the Senate this year," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the No. 2 Senate Democrat. The Senate bill would then have to be combined with legislation passed Saturday by the House, and the final version passed by both chambers before it could go to Obama's desk. Finishing that whole process before year's end would be tough.

"They want us to finish quickly. We do too. But some of these things are beyond our control," Durbin said of the White House's desire for fast action.

Complicating the effort, abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil the shaky Democratic effort.

Nelson, the Nebraska moderate, said he could not support a bill unless it clearly prohibits federal money from going to pay for abortions. He is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend, which had more stringent language than that approved by Senate committees.

"While there may be different views about abortion, I think there's a strong majority against using federal dollars to fund abortions," Nelson said Tuesday on NBC's "Today."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is personally opposed to abortion, said the issue was being negotiated.

"I expect the bill that will be brought to the floor will ensure that no federal funds are used for abortions and that the conscience rights for providers and health care facilities like Catholic hospitals are protected," Reid said Tuesday. "I think we can work that out."

The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in.

Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance.

"I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test — that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News.

The House bill would bar a new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law, under a provision called the Hyde amendment, which Reid said Tuesday had worked well.

"The one thing we're certain to do is to maintain what we've had in the past," said Reid, D-Nev. "The Hyde amendment has been a pretty good way to go."

The House bill would also prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money. The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House.

March for Health Care Justice

2009-11-09T21:05:00.001-05:00

Hey Folks! We're gearing up for the next escalation against Anthem Insurance and their lawsuit against us, the taxpayers of the state of Maine. Despite the wet weather of last month's Court House Rally, we still brought out more than a hundred people and were covered by MSNBC, CNN, and all the major Maine news outlets. (Check this out for a sample of the coverage: MPBN Coverage of Courthouse Rally) What's Next? We need you to join us for the March for Healthcare Justice on November 12th, Noontime in Augusta. Our Senators need to know what Anthem is doing - suing the state for more profits making health care less affordable - so that they can vote with us on health care reform. And we're delivering this message to them in-person. So, join religious leaders, legislators, activists, and Anthem rate-payers to rally for reform and demand an end to Anthem's abhorrent practices! What: March for Healthcare Justice Who: Leaders of the faith community, legislature, activists, and Anthem rate-payers; and Health Care for America Now! (HCAN) When: November 12, 2009 at 12:00p Noon Where: 95 State St., Augusta ME 04330 Contact: alec.maybarduk@gmail.com (207) 344-7540 Mainers are Begging for Change

Abortion could roil Senate health care debate

2009-11-09T20:56:00.001-05:00

Some lawmakers want to prohibit federal dollars from paying for abortions Associated Press updated 1 hour, 17 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil a shaky Democratic effort to pass President Barack Obama's signature issue by year's end. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Monday it's unlikely he could support a bill that doesn't clearly prohibit federal dollars from going to pay for abortions. His spokesman said Nelson is weighing options, including offering an amendment similar to the one passed by the House this weekend. The House-passed restrictions were the price Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had to pay to get a health care bill passed, on a narrow 220-215 vote. But it's prompted an angry backlash from liberals at the core of her party, and some are now threatening to vote against a final bill if the curbs stay in. Obama said the legislation needs to find a balance. "I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test — that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices," Obama said in an interview with ABC News. Pressure will intensify Senate Democrats will need Nelson's vote — and those of at least a half-dozen other abortion opponents in their caucus. They face a grueling debate against Republicans who are unified in their opposition to a sweeping remake of the health care system. It's unclear how the abortion opponents would line up; the pressure on them will intensify once the legislation is on the floor. "This is a very important issue to Sen. Nelson, and it is highly unlikely he would support a bill that doesn't clearly prohibit federal dollars from going to abortion," said his spokesman, Jake Thompson. An intraparty fight over abortion is the last thing that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., needs. Reid is already facing a revolt among Democratic moderates over the government-sponsored health plan that liberals want to incorporate in the legislation as a competitor to private insurance companies. Reid, who is himself opposed to abortion, will have to confront the issue directly as he puts together a Democratic bill for floor consideration. The committee-passed Senate versions differ on abortion, but none would go as far as the restrictive amendment passed by the House. The House bill would bar the new government insurance plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. That's the basic rule currently in federal law. It would also prohibit health plans that receive federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage. Insurers, however, could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money. Profound disagreement At issue is a profound disagreement over how current federal restrictions on abortion funding should apply to what would be a new stream of federal funding to help the uninsured gain coverage. Abortion opponents have sought to impose the same restrictions that now apply to the federal employee health plan, military health care and Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor. Abortion rights supporters say such an approach would threaten women's right to a legal medical procedure already widely covered by private insurance. The Senate health committee bill is largely silent on abortion, a stance that abortion opponents interpret as permitting coverage by private insurance plans that would receive federal subsidies. The Senate Finance Committee bill attempts to craft a compromise, as the House unsuccessfully tried to do before this weekend's vote tightened restrictions. The Finance plan would require insurance carriers to separate federal subsidy moneys from any funds used to provide abortions, and it would prohibit abortion coverage from being included in a minimum benefits package. It would require that state and regional insurance markets offer one plan that covers abortion, and one plan that does not. An accounting gimmick? Abortion opponents — including U.S. Catholic bishops — rejected a somewhat similar approach in the House, saying that the approach of keeping federal funds separate amounted to little more than an accounting gimmick. For now, the liberals are saying they will fight. Abortion rights supporters in the House were circulating a letter to Pelosi, threatening to vote against a final bill that restricts access to abortion coverage. At least 40 lawmakers had signed by early Monday. "I, along with the other pro-choice members in the House, intend to push very hard to ensure that language is not included in the final conference product," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. They're likely to have help in the Senate from two Republican women who support abortion rights, Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine. Collins indicated Monday that she thinks the House went too far. "I think the Senate Finance Committee did a good job of putting up a firewall that would prevent federal funds from being used for abortion," she said. "Generally, I prefer the Senate approach." Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Big question mark: Fate of health care in Senate

2009-11-08T20:08:00.011-05:00

Landmark health insurance bill passes House late Saturday

A Capitol Hill Police Officer stands guard outside of House of Representatives side of the U.S. Capitol as the healthcare bill is debated, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 in Washington. 6:14 p.m. ET, 11/7/09

Alex Brandon/AP

Associated Press updated 4:04 pm ET, Sun., Nov. 8, 2009

WASHINGTON - The glow from a health care triumph faded quickly for President Barack Obama on Sunday as Democrats realized the bill they fought so hard to pass in the House has nowhere to go in the Senate. Speaking from the Rose Garden about 14 hours after the late Saturday vote, Obama urged senators to be like runners on a relay team and "take the baton and bring this effort to the finish line on behalf of the American people." The problem is that the Senate won't run with it. The government health insurance plan included in the House bill is unacceptable to a few Democratic moderates who hold the balance of power in the Senate. If a government plan is part of the deal, "as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent whose vote Democrats need to overcome GOP filibusters. "The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said dismissively. No floor debate scheduled Democrats did not line up to challenge him. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has yet to schedule floor debate and hinted last week that senators may not be able to finish health care this year. Nonetheless, the House vote provided an important lesson in how to succeed with less-than-perfect party unity, and one that Senate Democrats may be able to adapt. House Democrats overcame their own divisions and broke an impasse that threatened the bill after liberals grudgingly accepted tougher restrictions on abortion funding, as abortion opponents demanded. In Senate, the stumbling block is the idea of the government competing with private insurers. Liberals may have to swallow hard and accept a deal without a public plan in order to keep the legislation alive. As in the House, the compromise appears to be to the right of the political spectrum. Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, who voted for a version of the Senate bill in committee, has given the Democrats a possible way out. She's proposing to allow a government plan as a last resort, if after a few years premiums keep escalating and local health insurance markets remain in the grip of a few big companies. This is the "trigger" option. That approach appeals to moderates such as Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. "If the private market fails to reform, there would be a fallback position," Landrieu said last week. "It should be triggered by choice and affordability, not by political whim." Lieberman said he opposes the public plan because it could become a huge and costly entitlement program. "I believe the debt can break America and send us into a recession that's worse than the one we're fighting our way out of today," he said. For now, Reid is trying to find the votes for a different approach: a government plan that states could opt out of. The Senate is not likely to jump ahead this week on health care. Reid will keep meeting with senators to see if he can work out a political formula that will give him not only the 60 votes needed to begin debate, but the 60 needed to shut off discussion and bring the bill to a final vote. Costs and coverage estimate Toward the end of the week, the Congressional Budget Office may report back with a costs and coverage estimate on Reid's bill, which he assembled from legislation passed by the Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The Finance Committee version does not include a government plan. Reid has pledged to Obama that he will get the bill done by the end of the year and remains committed to doing that, according to a Senate leadership aide. Both the House and Senate bills gradually would extend coverage to nearly all Americans by providing government subsidies to help pay premiums. The measures would bar insurers' practices such as charging more to those in poor health or denying them coverage altogether. All Americans would be required to carry health insurance, either through an employer, a government plan or by purchasing it on their own. To keep down costs, the government subsidies and consumer protections don't take effect until 2013. During the three-year transition, both bills would provide $5 billion in federal dollars to help get coverage for people with medical problems who are turned down by private insurers. Both House and Senate would expand significantly the federal-state Medicaid health program for low-income people. Regulated marketplace The majority of people with employer-provided health insurance would not see changes. The main beneficiaries would be some 30 million people who have no coverage at work or have to buy it on their own. The legislation would create a federally regulated marketplace where they could shop for coverage. The are several major differences between the bills.

The House would require employers to provide coverage; the Senate does not.
The House would pay for the coverage expansion by raising taxes on upper-income earners; the Senate uses a variety of taxes and fees, including a levy on high-cost insurance plans.
The House plan costs about $1.2 trillion over 10 years; the Senate version is under $900 billion

By defusing the abortion issue — at least for now — the House may have helped the long-term prospects for the bill. Catholic bishops also eager to expand society's safety net may yet endorse the final legislation.

Lieberman appeared on "Fox News Sunday," while Graham was CBS' "Face the Nation."