Obama-Biden Transition Team Health Care Listening Session

Tuesday, December 30th 4pm - 6pm Arnold/Howard Room, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

Sponsored by: Maine Medical Association (MMA), the Maine Osteopathic Association (MOA) and the Downeast Association of Physician Assistants (DEAPA)

Moderators: Gordon Smith, Esq., EVP of MMA and Joel Kase, D.O., MPH, President-elect of MOA

As we work to revamp our health care system, we need to hear from you. There is no problem that we cannot solve together-and it is out of our collective wisdom and experience that we will identify potential solutions to the many health care challenges that we face. We need to hear your ideas and your stories so that we can report them to the President-elect. Your answers will guide our collective effort to reform the U.S. health system.

This session is one of nearly 5000 scheduled the last two weeks of December across the country. Comments offered at the session will be recorded and forwarded to the transition team for its use in its effort to prepare health care reform legislation.

Download an advance copy of the five-page Participant Guide for Health Care Community Discussions.

Can't make it to the session but still want to participate? Post your questions about health care policy.

Submit your own personal health stories.

Open to the public. Please RSVP to 622-3374 x219 or RSVP@mainemed.com. I apologize for the very late posting of this event. If you can make it tomorrow, please call to RSVP. If not and you want to participate, please do so via the above links. Our leaders need to hear from us on health care and here's an opportunity to let your voice be heard. - Helen

CAHC Action - Save the Date

Consumers for Affordable Health Care in concert with the Maine Voices for Coverage Coalition is holding a press conference and rally at the State House in the Hall of Flags on January 15, 2009 from 11 to 1 pm, introducing legislation in an effort at health care reform right here in Maine. What CAHC and Maine Voices for Coverage need are stories from small businesses and from individuals pertaining to their health insurance struggles. They need stories about small businesses in Maine that can no longer afford to provide health insurance coverage to their employees because the cost of the insurance is so high. They need personal stories from folks who thought they had enough coverage, got sick or had an injury, then discovered that their health insurance was full of loop holes and had not enough coverage. CAHC and Maine Voices for Coverage also need folks to be at this press conference and rally, to show support for health care reform. Please contact Doug at dclopp@mainecahc.org or Cherilee at cbudrick@mainecahc.org at Consumers for Affordable Health Care for more information.

Obama chooses Daschle; Asks for input on Health Care Reform

“Now, some may ask how at this moment of economic challenge we can afford to invest in reforming our health care system. And I ask a different question. I ask how can we afford not to…. So let’s be clear. If we want to overcome our economic challenges, we must also finally address your health care challenge. - President- Elect Obama Last week, President-Elect Obama officially announced Tom Daschle as his choice for both Secretary of Health and Human Services and director of the new White House Office of Health Reform. He also named Dr. Jeanne Lambrew, who worked on health policy at the White House from 1997 to 2000, as the deputy director of Health Reform. According to a story in the New York Times, Daschle wants to establish a Federal Health Board, an independent entity like the Federal Reserve. Details of this plan are described in a book that Lambrew and Daschle recently co-wrote entitled, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to a recent web post at the Center for American Progress, where Lambrew is a Senior Fellow, Lambrew has advocated for plans that allow Americans to keep their existing coverage, while offering affordable options to those who need them. The plan would simplify Medicaid and extend coverage to those below a certain income level. President-Elect Obama and his transition team are asking for input on health care reform. Between now and the end of the year, activists are encouraged to hold community meetings, such as a house party, to talk about health care reform and submit comments to the transition team. In particular, it is important to make sure to raise issues that effect the direct-care workforce and long-term care. Sign up to host a community meeting by visiting change.gov. It will take all of us to make sure the meaningful health care reform becomes a reality. Allison Lee National Policy Director HCHCW

Cuts Proposed in MaineCare

Dear MAIN Members and Supporters, The State is facing another large deficit. Once again, MaineCare cuts are being proposed. This is only the beginning of a series of budget cut proposals that we will see over the next month. However, we want to alert you to proposed cuts in the MaineCare program that will be considered right away. They concern us and we think may concern you too. The Governor's supplemental budget proposes to eliminate several MaineCare services to parents. These are mostly working parents with family incomes within the following limits: You will be affected if: If you have a family of 2, with monthly income between $1,167 and $2,334 If you have a family of 3, with monthly income between $1,467 and $2,934 If you have a family of 4 with monthly income between $1,767 and $3,534 If you have a family of 5 with monthly income between $2,067 and $4,134 ONLY PARENTS (NOT CHILDREN) WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE SERVICE CUTS. The budget proposal does not include a list of the actual services to be cut. We hope to get that information in the next few days and will contact you again once we know more. However, in the meantime, we hope that you will contact us if you are a parent on MaineCare whose income is within the limits above. That will help us know who will be harmed.Please also tell us if there are particular MaineCare services that are very important to you. Please contact us if you or a family you know are willing to help fight these cuts when the time is right. We expect there will be public hearings on the budget scheduled the first or second week of January. We will need to make sure legislators hear the stories and the voices of people who will be hurt by cuts to services. We realize that not everyone who will be hurt by these cuts can come to the State House in Augusta and talk to legislators. However, please contact us as soon as possible so that together we can determine the most effective way for you, or a parent you know, to help legislators understand the harm that these cuts would cause. Please send an email to Crystal Bond or call Maine Equal Justice at 1-866-626-7059 x 205. Thank you! Crystal Crystal M. Bond Paralegal/Organizer Maine Equal Justice Partners 126 Sewall Street Augusta, Maine 04330 Tel: 1-866-626-7059 x 205 Fax: 207-621-8148 www.mejp.org "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here's one way to Get Involved

MSEA-SEIU members launch campaign to rescue state budget, revitalize economy. Forty states, including Maine, are dealing with a budget crisis. MSEA-SEIU members are uniting to demand that Congress act immediately to: - Provide more federal funding that will allow us to maintain the vital services our communities need; - Build and maintain our critical infrastructure; - Prevent layoffs and create new jobs. Get involved. Click here to see how.

Notice of Dues and Service Fees Increase

As of January 1st, 2009, dues and service fees for MSEA-SEIU bargaining unit members will increase. Members who are regularly scheduled to work more than 32 hours per week will pay $9.75 per week ($19.50 biweekly). Non-members who are regularly scheduled to work more than 32 hours per week will pay $5.06 per week in service fees ($10.12 biweekly). Members who are regularly scheduled to work 16 to 32 hours per week will pay $5.85 per week in dues ($11.70 biweekly). Non-members who are scheduled to work 16 to 32 hours per week will pay $3.04 per week in service fees ($6.07 biweekly). Members who are regularly scheduled to work 8 to 16 hours per week will pay $2.93 per week in dues ($5.85 biweekly). Non-members who are regularly scheduled to work less than 16 hours per week will pay $1.52 per week in service fees ($3.04 biweekly). Part-time employees regularly scheduled to work 8 hours or less per week will pay $0.00 per week, zero dues. If you're upset about these increases, all I can say is become a member, get involved, take action to protect our jobs and our wages. With the upcoming budget shortfalls looming, we'll need strong, union voices at the statehouse. We'll need to let our elected officials know we can't stand another cut. I also urge you to remember how our raises and quarterly stipends with our first contract came about. MSEA-SEIU, our union, was responsible for writing the legislation to increase the reimbursement rate that Home Care of Maine received for homemaking services. MSEA-SEIU also pushed for its passage, first through the DHHS Committee, then through the full legislature. Without our union, MSEA-SEIU, we would not have gotten the raises we got with our first contract. We are going to need MSEA-SEIU again. Our union will help raise awareness of the services our consumers need, as well as the need for better pay and benefits for us workers. If you don't like the way things are going, get involved, work towards change. Come to 771's next chapter meeting, Saturday, January 10th, MSEA-SEIU headquarters, 65 State Street, Augusta from 1-3 pm. Come and voice your questions, concerns, gripes. I'll be glad to see you there.

Gas Card at 771's next Meeting

Local 771 will give away another $50 gas card to a lucky member present at our January 10th meeting. Remember, you must be present to win. Hope to see you there!