Maine State Senate President Beth Edmonds introduced legislation to increase access to health care for direct-care workers. The bill, LD 1687, expands the definition of businesses eligible for DirigoChoice, the state’s health care program, to include state-funded long-term care providers that have more than 50 employees.The bill makes DirigoChoice coverage available to home care workers who work part-time and are not eligible for Medicaid or employer-sponsored health insurance. It also establishes a demonstration program to increase health insurance coverage among direct-care workers at agencies that get funding from Medicaid or other state long-term care programs.
PHI’s Health Care for Health Care Workers campaign is working closely with the Maine Coalition to pass LD 1687 this session.
