Thursday, October 3, 8:30AM – 3:30PM
Augusta Civic Center, Augusta Maine
This year’s conference, A New Day for Health Care in Maine, is designed to blend celebration with resolve and commitment. Progress being made to improve access to quality and affordable health care in Maine will be celebrated. At the same time, we will highlight the need to protect, preserve and build on gains made to expand access to affordable coverage, preventative care and other health care including prescription drugs. By bringing Mainers together, including people in need of care, advocates, policy makers, health care providers and other stakeholders, we resolve and commit to continued collaboration and working together to address barriers many still face in accessing the health care they need.
The day will include a series of presentations and workshops about health care coverage, efforts to address rising costs, inequities and gaps in coverage and opportunities to become and stay engaged in the effort to ensure all Mainers have access to affordable, quality health care.
Keynote Speaker
Margarida Jorge, Executive Director
Health Care for America Now!
Margarida Jorge is a 23-year veteran of electoral, union, civic engagement and issue campaigns and a recognized expert in the development of field strategies for local, state and national issue advocacy.
From 2008-2013, Margarida served as the National Field Director at Health Care for America Now, where she pioneered a new field model now widely used across issues and organizations that increased capacity for over 200 grassroots organizations in 44 states to pass, implement and defend the landmark Affordable Care Act.
Over the past 10 years in Washington, DC, Margarida also led SEIU’s Americans for Health Care campaign, developed and implemented field strategy for the Americans for Tax Fairness campaign, and built the intersectional “Stand with Women” campaign to integrate reproductive rights and economic justice at the Women’s Equality Center, where she served as National Director.
Prior to working in DC, Margarida spent over 10 years working for labor unions, community organizations and candidates in states like Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Florida and others. She was been recognized for her contributions to organizing and campaigns with the St. Louis City NAACP Outstanding Leadership & Dedicated Service to Labor Award (2005), the Hershel Walker Peace and Justice Award (2005), the Campaign for America’s Future Nominee for Maria Leavey Tribute Award (2009), and the USAction Progressive Leadership Grassroots Activism Award (2009).
Margarida currently works as a strategic and organizational development consultant for a variety of progressive organizations including Vision First, PICO National Network, Working America, Main Street Alliance, and the Child Care and Early Learning Action Hub.
Special Guest Speaker
Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Commissioner Lambrew is charged with leading the Department of Health and Human Service’s efforts to serve Maine’s most vulnerable, including providing health care and social service support to low-income children, families, the elderly and Mainers with disabilities or substance misuse disorders. Lambrew, PhD, has worked on improving the health system throughout her entire career. She held senior positions at the White House for ten years and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for four years. From 2011 to January 2017, she worked at the White House as the Deputy Assistant to the President for health policy. In that capacity, she helped ensure execution of the President’s health policy agenda including implementation and defense of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Her portfolio also included policy regarding Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), long-term services and supports, and public health. From 2009 to 2010, she was the Director of the HHS Office of Health Reform. In that role, she coordinated work toward passage and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Commissioner Lambrew will be followed by a panel consisting of leadership in the Department including:
Nirav Shah, MD, JD, Director, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Michelle Probert, Director, MaineCare Services
Megan Garratt-Reed, Senior Advisor, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Quick Links:
Tentative Agenda
Breakout Session Descriptions
Plenary Descriptions
2019 Conference Survey
Tentative Conference Agenda
7th Annual Health Care for Maine Conference
“A New Day for Health Care in Maine”
Thursday, October 3, 2019
08:00 Registration (Coffee & light breakfast served)
08:45 Introduction and Welcome Remarks
09:00 Keynote Address: Margarida Jorge, Executive Director, Health Care for America Now! (HCAN)
09:45 Break
10:00 First Breakout Sessions
1) Addressing Barrier Gaps to Achieve Health Equity in Maine
2) What to do About Health Care Costs — Efforts to Increase Value and Affordability
3) Changes in Maine Law: Reviewing Efforts to Improve Access to Affordable Coverage and Care
4) Efforts to Improve Access to Oral Health Care in Maine
11:05 Break
11:15 Second Breakout Sessions
1) Addressing Barrier Gaps to Achieve Health Equity in Maine
2) What to do About Health Care Costs — Efforts to Increase Value and Affordability
3) Changes in Maine Law: Reviewing Efforts to Improve Access to Affordable Coverage and Care
4) Marketplace Update for Assisters
12:15 Lunch (vegan and vegetarian options available)
01:00 Guest speaker, Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Commissioner Lambrew will be followed by a panel
consisting of leadership in the Department including:
1) Nirav Shah, MD, JD, Director, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
2) Michelle Probert, Director, MaineCare Services
3) Megan Garratt-Reed, Senior Advisor, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
01:50 Break
02:00 Strategies for Achieving Health Care Coverage for All Plenary
02:45 Next Steps and Evaluation
Breakout Session Descriptions
(details to be available soon)
Plenary Description
(details to be available soon)
2019 Conference Survey
(details to be available soon)
Special Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors
If you are interested in sponsoring this event or tabling please contact Kate or Ann at hc4me@mainecahc.org or call 207-622-7083.
Health Care for Maine (HC4ME) is an alliance of advocacy organizations working to ensure that every person in Maine has access to high quality health care they can afford. Members include Consumers for Affordable Health Care, AARP, Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Service, American Cancer Society/Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Maine Children’s Alliance, Maine Equal Justice, Maine Medical Association, Maine Primary Care Association, Maine People’s Resource Center, and the Maine People’s Alliance.