Physicians Sought for Dirigo Health Appointments
The Maine Medical Association and no doubt, many other health-related organizations, has received a communication from Governor Baldacci dated June 25th asking for input into the make-up of the new health organizations established in the Dirigo Health legislation. Although the Dirigo Health law does not take effect until September, the administration has already begun its search for individuals to nominate to serve on the following bodies:
- Dirigo Health Board of Directors
- Maine Quality Forum Advisory Committee
- Advisory Council on Health System Development
- Commission to Study Maine's Hospitals
- Task Force on Veterans' Health Services
The Maine Quality Forum Advisory Council, the Commission to Study Maine's Hospitals and the Task Force on Veterans' Health Services all require at least two physicians and physicians are not precluded from serving on the Dirigo Health Board of Directors or the Advisory Council on Health System Development. However, in the case of the five voting members of the Board, the physician could not be practicing or otherwise have an affiliation with a health or health-related organization.
A fuller description of each vacancy and nomination forms are below. Nominations must be filed by July 30th. Some of the boards require a list of physicians to be submitted by the Maine Medical Association and the Maine Osteopathic Association. MMA's Executive Committee will meet on July 30th to consider nominations for such lists. In the case of the Quality Forum Advisory Council, the three physician members must represent allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, primary care physicians and specialist physicians. MMA staff will meet with MOA staff on July 22nd to begin work on the lists.
Physicians interested in an appointment to one of the boards and wishing to be on the MMA and MOA list of submitted nominations should send a CV to the attention of Gordon Smith at MMA. E-mail address is gsmith@mainemed.com. Regular mail is P.O. Box 190, Manchester, Maine 04351. Questions may be directed to Mr. Smith or Andrew MacLean, MMA's Director of Governmental Affairs (amaclean@mainemed.com).
List of Boards and Commissions
Dirigo Health Board of Directors Qualifications – 5 persons needed
A. Must have knowledge of and experience in one or more of the following areas:
(1) Health care purchasing;
(2) Health insurance;
(3) MaineCare;
(4) Health policy and law;
(5) State management and budget; or
(6) Health care financing; and
B. Except as provided in this paragraph, may not be:
(1) A representative or employee of an insurance carrier authorized to do business in Maine;
(2) A representative or employee of a health care provider operating in Maine; or
(3) Affiliated with a health or health-related organization regulated by State
Government.
A nonpracticing health care practitioner, retired or former health care administrator or
retired or former employee of a health insurance carrier is not prohibited from being considered for board membership as long as that person is not currently affiliated with a
health or health-related organization.
Key Duties. Establish and administer Dirigo Health; hire executive director; collect savings offset payments; develop benefit and subsidies; and, establish and operate the Maine Quality Forum.
Maine Quality Forum Advisory Council – 17 persons needed
A. Seven members representing providers, including 3 physicians, one registered nurse, one representative of hospitals, one mental health provider and one health care practitioner who is not a physician. The 3 physician members must represent allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, primary care physicians and specialist physicians;
B. Four members representing consumers, including one employee who receives health care through a commercially insured product, one representative of organized labor, one representative of a consumer health advocacy group and one representative of the uninsured or MaineCare recipients;
C. Four members representing employers, including one member of the State Employee Health Commission, one representative of a private employer with more than 1,000 full-time equivalent employees, one representative of a private employer with 50 to 1,000 full-time employees and one representative of a private employer with fewer than 50 employees;
D. One representative of a private health plan; and
E. One representative of the MaineCare program.
Key Duties. Guides the research and dissemination, quality performance measurers, data coordination and public reporting of data; consumer education and technology assessment; convene provider advisory group.
Advisory Council on Health System Development – 11 persons needed
A. Two individuals with expertise in health care delivery;
B. One individual with expertise in long-term care;
C. One individual with expertise in mental health;
D. One individual with expertise in public health care financing;
E. One individual with expertise in private health care financing;
F. One individual with expertise in health care quality;
G. One individual with expertise in public health;
H. Two representatives of consumers; and
I. One representative of the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Health program that works collaboratively with other organizations to improve the health of the citizens of this State.
Key Duties. To guide the Governor's Office in establishing the state health plan and capital investment fund; conducting hearings; synthesizing data and research.
Commission to Study Maine's Hospitals – 9 persons needed
A. Two persons representing community hospitals chosen from a list submitted by a statewide association representing hospitals;
B. One person representing consumers of health care services;
C. Two persons representing physicians chosen from lists submitted by statewide associations representing allopathic and osteopathic physicians;
D. One person representing employers;
E. One person representing insurers or other 3rd-party payors of health care services;
F. One economist familiar with econometric modeling of health care systems and the analysis and forecasting of health care costs; and
G. One person who has expertise in public health issues.
Key Duties. To conduct a report on a comprehensive analysis of hospital costs, roles, reimbursement, capital needs, and opportunities to make policy recommendations.
Task Force on Veterans’ Health Services – 13 persons needed
A. One member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;
B. One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of the Representatives;
C. Nine members appointed by the Governor:
(1) Three members who are military veterans, including one military veteran representing the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee, one military veteran representing the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management Services, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services and one military veteran representing the Maine Veterans' Homes;
(2) Two members representing state agencies that provide health care services; and
(3) Four members representing health care providers, including one allopathic physician, one osteopathic physician, one representative of hospitals and one provider of mental health services;
D. A representative of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs; and
E. The Director of Maine Veterans' Homes or the director's designee.
Key Duties. Analyze and assess health services to veterans and make recommendations to more effectively organize those services.
Nomination Form
Advisory Committees/Boards Related to Health Reform
1. Nominee:
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2. Nominated By:
3. Please identify the specific Board/Commission for which you are nominating this person:
‰ Dirigo Health Board of Directors
‰ Maine Quality Forum Advisory Council
‰ Advisory Council on Health Systems Development
‰ Commission to Study Maine’s Hospitals
‰ Task Force on Veterans’ Health Services
4. Identify which of the requisite qualifications s/he meets for the particular position
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5. Please attach nominee’s resume
6. All nominations must be submitted by July 30, 2003 to:
Trish Riley
Director, Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance
15 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0015
Fax: (207) 624-7608 [return to top]
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