Dirigo Health Plan
The Dirigo Health Plan was unveiled in May of 2003, introduced as a major political initiative to address the serious problems of Maine's spiraling healthcare/health insurance costs.. Initially, the majority of Maine's business community took a "wait and see" attitude toward the Dirigo Health Plan.
In March of 2005, MERI conducted the 2005 Maine Senior Management Survey in which 531 CEO's, Presidents and Senior Managers participated in a comprehensive, business leader opinion survey. Maine's business community was asked "Do you support the Dirigo Health Program?". The results are shown below. Clearly, the business community had developed a growing concern for the plan.
|
SUPPORT
MAINE DIRIGO HEALTHCARE PROGRAM |
|
|
|
2005
Survey |
|
5 Strongly
Support |
2% |
|
4 Somewhat
Support |
11 |
|
3 Neutral |
38 |
|
2 Somewhat
Against |
19 |
|
1 Strongly
Against |
30 |
|
|
|
|
Total Support |
13% |
|
Total Against |
49 |
|
Ratio Support/Against |
0.3:1 |
|
Mean Score |
2.36 |
In November 2005, a group of Maine business advocates, The Maine Business Association Roundtable, published a white paper on the issue entitles "Dirigo Health Plan: Promises vs. Reality" (To view the white paper click here) and it is provided here, with permission, for your information and thoughtful consideration.
February 27, 2006: The facts on Dirigo SOP..