Governor Janet Mills has named Meg Garratt Reid as executive director of the new Affordable Health Care Authority.
Meg Garratt-Reed Named Head of New Maine Office of Affordable Health Care Photo provided
Garratt-Reed is currently Director of the Health Insurance Marketplace Office for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Garratt-Reed needs approval from the Maine Senate before she can begin her new role.
The new office, which will be launched this year, will “analyze the drivers of health care costs and propose solutions to help the people of Maine.” , employers, other health payers, and state governments to identify policy recommendations to improve the affordability, quality, access, and equity of health care.
The office has a total of three employees, including Garratt-Reed, and a budget of $403,000.
The U.S. government has expanded access to insurance since the 1990s by passing the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Affordable Care Act, and the expansion of Medicaid. little action has been taken. In fact, medical costs have increased dramatically since the 1970s.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a medical think tank, healthcare spending has increased from $1,875 per person (adjusted for inflation) in 1970 to $12,531 per person in 2020.
It’s not clear whether a state as small as Maine alone can implement reforms that would impact the country’s vast healthcare industry enough to cut costs, but it would be a tremendous challenge, he said. health experts say.
Garratt-Reed, who holds his current role in the Health Insurance Marketplace office, “was instrumental in launching CoverME.gov,” according to a news release. This her website is where Mainers buys his ACA Marketplace insurance on behalf of her federal website, www.healthcare.gov.
“Maine has seen the largest drop in uninsured rates of any state in the country in recent years. We believe we can continue to move forward in improving the affordability of our products.
Maine’s uninsured rate has fallen from 8% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2021. This is largely due to the expansion of Medicaid implemented by Mills.
Garratt-Reed said in a statement, “Based on this appointment and expanding Maine’s leading national coverage, we have been given the opportunity to ensure that all Maines have access to the health care they need. I am honored to do so.
Garratt-Reed’s nomination is subject to review by Congress’ Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee and confirmation by the Maine Senate. If approved, Garat Reed will be appointed to her five-year term.
The agency was created by law sponsored by Senate Speaker Troy Jackson and is advised by a 13-member council.
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