Healthcare

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 1426: Resolve, To Expand Child Assertive Community Treatment

This bill creates two pilot programs to expand child assertive community treatment (ACT) teams in Lewiston and Bangor, Maine. By December 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services must issue competitive requests for proposals requiring grantees to use workforce incentives for hiring and retaining staff. It allocates $320,000 total ($160,000 per pilot) for these programs, which aim to address shortages in community-based behavioral health services for children. Within 90 days after the pilots conclude, the department must report outcomes and recommendations to the legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health services for children via $320k pilot programs addressing staffing shortages in community behavioral health.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

signed · Maine · House Jul 1, 2025

LD 93: An Act To Reduce Cost And Increase Access To Disease Prevention By Expanding The Universal Childhood Immunization Program To Include Adults

LD 93 expands Maine's Universal Childhood Immunization Program to cover all adults residing in the state, not just children under 19. The bill amends existing law to define "individual" as any Maine resident and modifies program administration to include adults in the vaccine coverage. It maintains the same funding mechanism through the Childhood Immunization Fund, requiring assessed entities (like insurance providers) to pay quarterly assessments based on the number of covered residents. This change aims to reduce costs and increase access to recommended vaccines for all age groups by extending the existing childhood program framework.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands immunization coverage to all adults, increasing access to preventive healthcare services under existing funding mechanism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

signed · Maine · House Jul 1, 2025

LD 977: Resolve, Requiring The Maine Health Data Organization To Develop A Plan For Measuring Gaps In Home And Community-Based Services

LD 977 requires Maine's Health Data Organization to create a plan for measuring the gap between approved home and community-based services (like those under MaineCare) and the actual services people receive. It directs the organization to use existing data from MaineCare and state programs to develop an annual measurement system that meets federal requirements. The organization must submit a report by January 15, 2026, detailing available data, gaps, costs, and recommendations for ongoing tracking. This affects MaineCare beneficiaries and state-funded program participants by establishing a standardized way to track service delivery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires MaineCare service gap measurement to improve delivery, aligning with healthcare strengthening goals through data-driven oversight.90% confidence

signed · Maine · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 143: An Act To Improve Women'S Health And Economic Security By Funding Family Planning Services

LD 143 establishes a dedicated fund within Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to maintain statewide access to family planning services. The bill allocates $6.18 million annually from the General Fund to be distributed as a single grant to a qualified provider selected through a competitive request for proposals. This provider will manage and oversee the delivery of family planning services across the state, including coordination with subrecipients. The fund is designed to ensure ongoing, non-lapsing funding for these services without replacing existing funding sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $6.18M annually from General Fund to fund family planning services, increasing public health program funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $6.18M annually to fund family planning services, ensuring statewide healthcare access under Women's Health as specified in bill subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

signed · Maine · House Jul 1, 2025

LD 865: An Act To Require Mainecare To Reimburse For Lactation Services In The Homes Of Eligible Persons

This bill requires MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program) to reimburse for breastfeeding support services provided in hospitals or at home. It directly affects parents of children eligible for MaineCare or the Children's Health Insurance Program, even if the parent themselves isn't covered by MaineCare. The law mandates reimbursement for services delivered by certified lactation consultants (specifically those certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners). The Department of Health and Human Services must apply for a federal state plan amendment by January 1, 2026, to implement this change.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates MaineCare reimbursement for lactation services, expanding Medicaid coverage for breastfeeding support and improving access to maternal health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 1745: An Act To Stabilize Residential Treatment Capacity For Children And Youth In Maine

LD 1745 requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to notify the Legislature about closures of children's residential care facilities by October 1, 2025, including details like facility name, bed count, closure reasons, and child transition plans. It mandates the department to convene providers to assess staffing and resource needs by December 3, 2025, and to analyze costs of emergency department stays and out-of-state placements for children with behavioral health needs. The bill also directs the department to establish a new payment model for aftercare services by the same deadline. These provisions directly affect residential treatment facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services, and children requiring behavioral health care in Maine.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates analysis of behavioral health service costs and stabilizes residential treatment capacity, supporting mental health care access for children.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

signed · Maine · House Jan 11, 2026

LD 858: An Act To Ensure Behavioral And Mental Health Services Are Available To Students By Providing Grants To Schools That Contract For Those Services

LD 858 creates a state grant program to help schools access behavioral and mental health services for students. It provides schools with $3,000 to $9,000 annually based on student population (e.g., $9,000 for schools over 500 students) to contract with licensed external providers. The grants cannot cover services already paid for by MaineCare, and funds must supplement - not replace - existing school mental health staff. This program, funded at $1.353 million yearly starting in 2025-26, directly supports school districts in expanding student mental health resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $1.35M in annual grants to schools for mental health services, supplementing existing staff without replacement, directly enhancing student access to behavioral health support in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health services for students via school grants, explicitly supplements existing staff, directly expands access to behavioral health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

signed · Maine · Senate Jul 1, 2025

LD 689: An Act To Support The Northern New England Poison Center

LD 689 appropriates $335,000 annually from the General Fund to the Northern New England Poison Center for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. This funding ensures the center can continue providing 24-hour medical advice and information about potentially harmful substances to Maine residents. The bill directly supports the poison center’s operations, enabling it to maintain emergency services for people exposed to toxins or poisons. It does not create new regulations but secures ongoing access to a critical public health resource.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $335k annually from General Fund to fund poison center operations, directly supporting essential public health services through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly funds poison center's 24/7 healthcare services, securing public health operations through annual appropriation per bill's funding allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Public Health

signed · Maine · House Apr 27, 2025

LD 917: An Act Regarding Charges To Uninsured Patients For Covid-19 Vaccines

LD 917 repeals a law that prohibited healthcare providers from charging uninsured patients for administering a COVID-19 vaccine. This change allows providers to bill uninsured patients for vaccine administration services, meaning these patients may now face costs for getting vaccinated. The bill directly affects uninsured patients (who may now be charged) and healthcare providers (who can now collect fees for administration). The repeal specifically targets the administration fee, not the vaccine itself, and removes a prior restriction on such charges.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill repeals prohibition on charging uninsured patients for vaccine admin, restricting access to free vaccination services and creating new financial barriers for vulnerable populations.92% confidence

signed · Maine · Senate Jun 19, 2025

LD 843: An Act To Continue Funding For The Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program

This bill continues annual funding for Maine's Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program, which helps residents navigate health insurance issues. It allocates $300,000 each year from special revenue funds to the Attorney General's office to contract with a nonprofit organization operating the program. The bill also updates the reporting deadline for the Attorney General to submit annual data on program services from January 15 to January 31. The program directly assists Maine residents seeking help with health insurance coverage, claims, or enrollment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $300,000 annually from state funds to continue essential health insurance assistance program, directly funding public service provision.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareContinues $300,000 annual funding for Maine's Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program, directly aiding residents with coverage navigation and access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance