▁of ▁the ▁Aff ord able ▁Care ▁Act ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁Ob am ac are ). ▁ ▁Orig ins ▁ ▁Dir igo ▁Health ▁was ▁created ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁Maine ▁Public ▁Law ▁ 4 6 9 , ▁also ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Dir igo ▁Health ▁Reform ▁Act . ▁It ▁was ▁originally ▁presented ▁to ▁the ▁Maine ▁Legisl ature ▁by ▁Governor ▁John ▁Bald acci ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁and ▁became ▁law ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁The ▁law ▁is ▁a ▁compreh ensive ▁reform ▁of ▁the ▁state ' s ▁health ▁care ▁system , ▁address ing ▁cost , ▁quality ▁and ▁access . ▁Al ong ▁with ▁Dir igo Choice , ▁it ▁created ▁the ▁Maine ▁Qu ality ▁Forum , ▁a ▁state ▁health ▁plan ▁and ▁put ▁forth ▁measures ▁to ▁reduce ▁the ▁growth ▁of ▁health ▁care ▁costs ▁in ▁Maine , ▁including ▁asking ▁hosp it als ▁to ▁volunt arily ▁cap ▁their ▁annual ▁cost ▁increases ▁at ▁ 3 % ▁per ▁year ▁and ▁their ▁operating ▁marg ins ▁at ▁ 3 . 5 % ▁per ▁year . ▁The ▁law ▁further ▁expanded ▁Med ica id ▁program ▁in ▁the ▁state . ▁ ▁Dir igo Choice ▁ ▁Dir igo Choice ▁is ▁a ▁subs id ized ▁health ▁ins urance ▁program ▁available ▁to ▁Maine ▁business es ▁with ▁fewer ▁than ▁ 5 0 ▁employees , ▁the ▁self - emp loy ed , ▁and ▁other ▁individuals . ▁The ▁program ▁is ▁fund ed ▁through ▁a ▁one - time ▁grant ▁of ▁$ 5 3 ▁million ▁from ▁the ▁state , ▁employ er ▁and ▁employee ▁contributions , ▁Med ica id ▁pay ments