123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 2247 LR 3143(09)
An Act To Continue Maine's Leadership in Covering the Uninsured
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment "     " to Committee Amendment "A"
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe-Mello of Androscoggin
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
2007-08 2008-09 Projections 2009-10 Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $860,397 $889,514 $885,311
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund $0 ($43,857) $0 $0
Dirigo Health Fund $0 ($61,502,356) ($65,954,381) ($67,092,790)
Revenue
General Fund $0 ($904,254) ($889,514) ($885,311)
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 ($48,595) ($48,792) ($48,561)
Dirigo Health Fund $0 ($61,502,356) ($65,954,381) ($67,092,790)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The fiscal note reflects the incremental difference between the amendment and Committee Amendment "A".
This amendment eliminates the proposed increases in the cigarette tax and other tobacco products tax, which reduces General Fund revenue by $904,254 in fiscal year 2008-09 and reduces revenue for the Dirigo Health Fund by $28,502,356 in fiscal year 2008-09.  It also eliminates the General Fund appropriation of $43,857 in fiscal year 2008-09 for Maine Revenue Services.
The amendment would retain the elimination the Saving Offset Payment (SOP), one of the funding sources for the Dirigo Health Program, beginning with the assessment effective July 1, 2008, but would not offset the lost revenue.  For the purposes of this fiscal note, the baseline assumption for future year SOPs is the $32.8 million SOP assessed for the year beginning July 1, 2008. 
The amendment establishes a reinsurance pool for the individual health insurance market financed with an assessment on member insurers with a maximum assessment of $2 per covered person.  Because this assessment would be assessed and collected by the Association, a non-profit legal entity, there is no direct fiscal impact on State programs or accounts. 
Dirigo Health Fund Summary 2008-09 Projections 2009-10 Projections 2010-11
   Revenue Changes:
Elimination of the Savings Offset Payment ($32,900,000) ($32,800,000) ($32,800,000)
      Revenue Changes ($32,900,000) ($32,800,000) ($32,800,000)
   Allocation Changes:
Other Dirigo Net Allocation Change ($32,900,000) ($32,800,000) ($32,800,000)
   Allocation Changes ($32,900,000) ($32,800,000) ($32,800,000)