Skip Maine state header navigation
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
The State Health Plan must reflect the needs and priorities of all Maine people. To ensure the Plan is responsive to diverse needs, the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance and the Advisory Council on Health Systems Development are implementing a 5-part public process to engage Mainers in crafting “their” Health Plan.
The State Health Plan will address our health care costs, quality and access and is a key element of Dirigo Health Reform. It will help Maine become the healthiest state in the country.
The State Health Plan will only be effective as it reflects the diverse needs and priorities of Maine people. Accordingly, the 5-part strategy includes:
Step 1: Dirigo Health Reform created the Advisory Council on Health Systems and Development to advise in the development and implementation of the biennial State Health Plan. Advisory Council members include representatives from the health care community: hospitals, physicians, public health advocates, consumer advocates, and more. All meetings of the Advisory Council are open and public and include time set aside for public comments.
Step 2: GOHPF will publish information on Maine’s health status, spending and costs by regions of the state. This “data book” will be available in 2005 and be distributed widely. It will also be found on-line at www.dirigohealth.maine.gov.
Step 3: Public forums will be held statewide to get reactions from the public about the information in the data book. The forums will help begin a conversation with Maine citizens on how to make Maine the healthiest state in the nation.
Step 4: In May, a discussion on “Tough Choices in Health Care” will be held in three cities. These will be similar to large focus groups or in-person surveys and will be a scientific way to get detailed feedback on citizens’ priorities for health care. Through a random statewide selection process, a cross-mix of the population will be invited to participate – about 1000 people statewide.
To run this program, GOHPF is working with the Advisory Council, the Margaret Chase Smith Center at the University of Maine, Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, the National Academy for State Health Policy based in Portland, and AmericaSpeaks, a national nonprofit with unique expertise in involving the citizen voice in public policy discussions.
Step 5: The Advisory Council will incorporate the information and the different perspectives into the State Health Plan, which is due this summer. Before it is completed, public hearings will be held on a draft plan to receive additional public comment.
The State Health Plan is the people’s business. This 5-part process
will help ensure everyone has a voice in the process and that the Plan reflects
the needs and priorities of Maine people and all stakeholders.
