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“Tough Choices ” was held on Saturday May 21st at the University of Maine at Orono and the University of New England in Biddeford. Over 300 Maine people who represent a cross-section of Maine’s population participated in the meeting.
Please click here for the "Tough Choices" report from May 21st (PDF).
Please click here for the Final "Tough Choices" Report, November 2005 (PDF).
At the meetings, participants discussed their values for health care, how to improve health and health care in Maine, and significantly, what we all can do – providers, consumers and payers – to make Maine the healthiest state in the nation. This meeting is the beginning of a conversation with Maine people on these issues. It is one step of an extensive public process to engage the public and also to inform development of the State Health Plan - to make health care work better in Maine and to make Maine the healthiest state.
Click here for the "Tough Choices in Health Care" Discussion Guide (PDF). This Guide was used at the meeting. It discusses the status of health and health care in Maine and presents several "choices" for improving health, reducing costs, improving quality and increasing access.
It was developed with significant guidance and input provided by experts representing providers, consumers, insurers, business, policy makers, government and researchers. Their advice helped develop the Guide, but their involvement is not necessarily an endorsement of the content or the "Tough Choices" process.
The State Health Plan addresses Maine’s health care costs, quality and access and is a key element of Dirigo Health Reform. Issued every two years by the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance, the Plan is a roadmap for our State to improve health and health care delivery and asks all of us – consumers, providers and payers – to play a role.
The goal of the State Health Plan is to make Maine the healthiest state in
the nation. But, the goal of making Maine the healthiest state will require
tough choices by citizens about taking responsibility for their own health,
as well as choices about how health care is provided and financed in Maine.
The goal of the Tough Choices campaign is to make sure that Maine residents
have a chance to express their values and ideas for health and health care.
Their input is needed to reach the goal of a healthier Maine.
