Sec. A-8. 22 MRSA §3174-DD is enacted to read:

§3174-DD.__Dirigo Health Plan

The department may contract with one or more health insurance carriers to purchase Dirigo Health Insurance for MaineCare members who seek to enroll through their employers pursuant to Title 24-A, chapter 87. The insurance received by the MaineCare member must be the same as the insurance offered to other employees in the MaineCare member's group, except that only nominal cost-sharing, as permitted by 42 United States Code, Section 1396(o) (2003) may be required of MaineCare members.__The department shall continue to provide MaineCare members services covered by MaineCare that are not covered by the member's Dirigo Health Insurance.

Sec. A-9. 24-A MRSA c. 87 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 87

DIRIGO HEALTH

SUBCHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§6901.__Short title

This chapter may be known and cited as "the Dirigo Health Act."

§6902.__Declaration of necessity

Dirigo Health is established to arrange for the provision of comprehensive, affordable health care coverage to small employers, including the self-employed, their employees and dependents, as well as individuals on a voluntary basis.__Dirigo Health is also responsible for monitoring and improving the quality of health care in this State.

§6903.__Dirigo Health

Dirigo Health is established as a body corporate and politic and a public instrumentality of the State, and the exercise by Dirigo Health of the powers conferred by this chapter must be deemed and held to be the performance of essential governmental functions.