Dear Editor:

Janet Mills has done an admirable job managing Maine’s economy: Standard and Poors and Moody’s have given Maine strong credit ratings for three years after being downgraded during Paul LePage’s time in office; there have been surpluses allowing the “Rainy Day” Fund to be funded at record high levels; and conservative economists have given Maine high marks for its economic recovery from COVID—all this while increasing the state’s share of education funding to the mandated level of 55% for the first time and restoring the state revenue sharing to towns to 5% after LePage cut it 2%.

However, as a retired physician assistant, what I am most grateful for, and proud of, is the way Gov. Mills and the Democratic Legislature have protected and expanded access to health care. Gov. Mills expanded Mainecare giving 95,000 more Mainers health insurance. LePage blocked Mainecare expansion despite the referendum that was approved in 2004 to expand it. Mainecare now covers dental care for adults as well as children, important because poor dentition has been linked to a variety of serious (and costly) diseases, including heart disease.

Gov. Mills and the Democratic Legislature have protected and expanded access to critical reproductive healthcare. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are now allowed to perform abortions and both private insurance and Mainecare are required to cover abortion services. Since Dobbs, Gov. Mills has issued executive orders that would protect patients and providers of abortion services from out of state legal attacks.

Maine came through the pandemic better than most states, thanks to Gov. Mills and the excellent guidance of Dr. Shah. In fact, Maine was recently ranked second in a study of state healthcare systems response to the pandemic. Maine has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country and the statewide requirement for healthcare providers to be vaccinated protected patients and co-workers. LePage said he would have let healthcare providers go unvaccinated.

I hope you will join me in voting for Janet Mills (and your Democratic candidates for the Legislature).

Ann Schaer

Waldoboro