The Maine Health Plan is established in order to keep residents of this State healthy and provide the best quality of health care. The Maine Health Plan must ensure all residents of this State are covered; cover all necessary care, including dental, vision and hearing, mental health, chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies, long-term care and home care; allow patients to choose their providers; reduce costs by cutting administrative bureaucracy, not by restricting or denying care; set premiums based on ability to pay; focus on preventive care and early intervention to improve health; ensure that there are enough health care providers to guarantee timely access to care; continue the State’s leadership in medical education, research and technology; provide adequate and timely payments to providers; and use a simple funding and payment system.