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

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

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

New grant for Home Health Care training for Maine

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

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

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

AFL-CIO NOW BLOG Public Supports Paid Sick Leave

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

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

Joyce Gagnon 1943-2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.