Legislative Testimony
MaineHealth utilizes its network of professionals and experts to weigh in on important policy issues that could impact our ability to meet our mission and vision.
Attached below is MaineHealth’s 130th Legislative Session Priorities:
Attached below is MaineHealth’s 130th Legislative Funding Priorities:
Attached below is the 2021 Legislative Tracking Sheet:
Legislative testimony and resources from the 129th Legislature (2019-2020) are available here.
Legislative Testimony
Below is legislative testimony provided by experts from MaineHealth.
2021 Testimony
Sarah Calder in Opposition to LD 178 “An Act to Reduce Waste of Prescription Medications”
Katie Fullam Harris in Qualified Support for LD 1 “An Act to Establish the COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights”
Sarah Calder in Support for LD 523 and LD 617 “An Act Regarding Prior Authorizations for Prescription Drugs”
Corinn Martineau in Support of LD 603 “An Act Regarding the Practice of Pharmacy”
Beth Wilson in Support of LD 603 “An Act Regarding the Practice of Pharmacy
Brian Marden in Support of LD 998 “An Act to Amend the Continuing Education Requirement for Pharmacists”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 631 “An Act to Provide Funding for Maine’s Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program”
Elisabeth Erekson in Support of LD 790 “An Act Clarifying Patient Consent for Certain Medical Examinations”
Tiffany Townsend in Support of LD 1115 “An Act to Improve Access to HIV Prevention Medications”
Katie Fullam Harris in Opposition to LD 1196 “An Act Regarding Targets for Health Plan Investments in Primary Care and Behavioral Health”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 1268 “An Act to Provide Greater Access to Treatment for Serious Mental Illness by Prohibiting an Insurance Carrier from Requiring Prior Authorization or Step Therapy Protocol”
Irwin Brodsky in Support of LD 673 of LD 673 “An Act to Create the Insulin Safety Net Program”
Penelope St. Louis in Support of “LD 945 An Act Regarding Notice by Health Insurance Carriers of Policy Changes”
Katie Fullam Harris in Opposition to LD 951 “An Act To Improve Transparency of Medical Billing” and LD 1353 “An Act to Require Public Posting of the Costs of Medical Procedures, Services, Medications and Equipment Delivered in Hospitals and the Reporting of Those Costs Upon Request”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 1293 “An Act To Improve Access to Certain Injectable Medications for Treatment of Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder”
Jasmine Bishop testified in Support for Telehealth Expansion on LD 323 “An Act Regarding Insurance Coverage for Telehealth Services”, LD 649 “An Act to Expand and Promote Telehealth Services”, LD 1007 “An Act to Increase Availability of Health Care through Telehealth”, LD 1194 “An Act to Reduce Health Care Worker Shortages”, and LD 1361 “An Act to Amend Telehealth Laws Regarding Out-of-State Telehealth Provisions”, LD 1681 “An Act Regarding Telehealth Services for Certain Licensees of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Certain Licensees Affiliated with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.”
2021 Testimony
Nancy Green in Support for LD 265 “An Act to Provide Women Access to Affordable Postpartum Care”
Sarah Calder in Support for LD 269 “An Act to Prohibit Smoking in Bus Shelters”
Sarah Calder in Support for LD 510 “Resolve, To Reduce Stigma Regarding Substance Use Disorder by Requiring the Use of Respectful Language in the MaineCare Benefits Manual and Other Department of Health and Human Services Publications”
Victoria Rogers in Support of LD 78 “An Act To Protect Children from Extreme Poverty by Preserving Children's Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Benefits”
Sarah Calder in Strong Opposition to LD 624 “An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Tobacco Specialty Stores”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 629 “Resolve, To Establish the Task Force to Study Improving Safety and Provide Protection from Violence for Health Care Workers in Hospitals and Mental Health Care Providers”
Sarah Lynch in Strong Support of LD 674 “An Act to Support Early Intervention and Treatment of Psychotic Disorders”
Douglas Robbins in Strong Support of LD 674 “An Act to Support Early Intervention and Treatment of Psychotic Disorders”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 269 “An Act to Prohibit Smoking in Bus Shelters”
Tricia Foley in Support of LD 590 “An Act to Require MaineCare Coverage for Ostomy Equipment”
Katie Fullam Harris in Oppostion to LD 927, LD 931, LD 932, LD 935, and LD1004 “Bills that Would Repeal Sections of Maine’s Certificate of Need Statute”
Penelope St. Louis in Support of LD 945 “An Act Regarding Notice by Health Insurance Carriers of Policy Changes”
Mark Parker in Opposition to LD 1001 “An Act to Ensure Parents’ Access to Their Minor and Adult Children with Special Needs”
Katie Fullam Harris in Strong Support of LD 1080 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Update the Rights of Recipients of Mental Health Services”
Katie Fullam Harris in Strong Support of LD 1135 “An Act Regarding Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services and Increasing Reimbursement Rates for Those Services”
Elisabeth Wilson in Support of LD 718 “An Act to Improve the Health of Maine Residents by Closing Coverage Gaps in the MaineCare Program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program”
Kelly Barton in Strong Support of LD 1262 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop a Comprehensive Statewide Strategic Plan to Serve Maine People with Behavioral Health Needs Throughout Their Lifespans”
Sarah Calder in Qualified Support of LD 1385 “An Act to Provide for Timely Placement with Respect to Violent Patients in Hospital Emergency Rooms”
Christopher Wellins in Support of LD 1386 “Resolve, to Improve Access to Bariatric Care”
Karen Evans in Support of LD 1147 “Resolve, To Enhance Access to Medication Management for Individuals with Serious and Persistent Mental”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 1333 “An Act Concerning the Dispensation of Naloxone Hydrochloride by Emergency Medical Services Providers"
Karen Evans in Strong Support of LD “1470 Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement for Providing Inpatient Care to Individuals with Acute Mental Health Care Needs”
Mary Jane Krebs in Strong Support of LD “1470 Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement for Providing Inpatient Care to Individuals with Acute Mental Health Care Needs”
Merilee Perkins in Strong Support of LD “1470 Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement for Providing Inpatient Care to Individuals with Acute Mental Health Care Needs”
Dr. Kimberly Perreault in Strong Support of LD “1470 Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement for Providing Inpatient Care to Individuals with Acute Mental Health Care Needs”
Lyvia Gaewsky testified in Support of LD 1501 “An Act to Protect Oral Health for Children in Maine”
2021 Testimony
Dr. Matt Siegel testified in Opposition to LD 1373 as amended “An Act to Keep All Maine Students Safe by Restricting the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools”
Sarah Calder testified in Support of LD 1684 “An Act to Strengthen Maine’s Workforce by Expanding English Language Acquisition and Workforce Training Programs”
2021 Testimony
Tad Olsen in Strong Support for LD 273 “An Act to Sustain the Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship Program”
Charm Karunasiri in Strong Support for LD 273 “An Act to Sustain the Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship Program”
Tyler Bernaiche in Strong Support for LD 273 “An Act to Sustain the Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship Program”
Rebecca Bell in Strong Support for LD 273 “An Act to Sustain the Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship Program”
Jo Linder in Strong Support for LD 273 “An Act to Sustain the Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship Program”
Caleb Swanberg in Strong Support for LD 273 “An Act to Sustain the Doctors for Maine’s Future Scholarship Program”
Sarah Calder in Strong Support for LD 374 “An Act to Allow Veterans, Activity Duty Service Members and Their Spouses to Apply for Temporary Occupational Licenses and Certifications”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 149 “An Act to Facilitate Licensure for Credentialed Individuals from Other Jurisdictions”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 612 “An Act to Recognize Occupational Licenses and Certifications from Other States to Attract New Residents and Businesses to Maine”
2021 Testimony
Chris Wellins in Strong Support for LD 366 “An Act Regarding Emergency Guardianship
Timothy Fox in Strong Support of LD 861 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Contract for Assessments for Involuntary Hospitalizations”
Robert McCarley in Support of LD 868 “An Act to Provide Consistency Regarding Persons Authorized to Conduct Examinations for Emergency Involuntary Commitment and Post-admission Examinations”
Sarah Calder in Support of LD 1144 “An Act To Amend the Law Regarding Advance Health Care Directives”
Frank Chessa in Support of LD 1419 “An Act To Support Health Care Providers during State Public Health Emergencies”
Dr. Robert McCarley testified in Support of LD 869 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Review the Progressive Treatment Program and Processes by Which a Person May Be Involuntarily Admitted to a Psychiatric Hospital or Receive Court-ordered Community Treatment”
Dr. Brock Libby testified in Opposition to LD 926 and LD 1401 “An Act to Ban Biological Males from Female Sports”
Dr. Erin Belfort, Toni Eimicke (CPNP), and Brandy Brown (LCSW) testified on behalf of the Gender Clinic at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Strong Opposition to LD 926 “ An Act to Ban Biological Males from Participating in Women’s Sports” and LD 1401 “An Act to Prohibit Biological Males from Participating in School Athletic Programs and Activities Designated for Females at Schools that Receive Federal Funding”
Dr. Colby Wyatt testified in Opposition to LD 1292 “An Act Regarding the Parental Right to Direct the Health Care of Children”
2021 Testimony
2021 Testimony
Susan Doliner testified in Support of LD 1251 “An Act to Encourage Charitable Giving”
Dr. Annie Coates testified in Support of LD 1423 “An Act to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use by Ensuring Adequate Funding for Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Programs and by Raising the Tax on Tobacco Products and to Provide Funding to Reduce Disparities in Health Outcomes Based on Certain Factors”