Maine Governor Ceremonially Signs Health Care Bills

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July 17, 2007 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today ceremonially signed 18 bills passed by the Legislature this session.

“These bills together go a long way to accomplishing our most important job – to protect the health and welfare of the people of Maine,” said Governor Baldacci.

The legislation addresses consumer protection issues such as making more information about prescription drugs and their costs available; expand coverage for cancer screenings, hearing aids for the young, and for insurance for those 25 and under; calls for reviews to expand access to dental care and to assistance to those with debilitating diseases such as eating disorders and mental health issues; and improves practices that promote HIV testing and limit the spread of the disease.

Four of the new laws advance the goals of Dirigo Health in making Maine the healthiest state in the nation. LD 431 enables DirigoChoice to be self-administered, thereby taking the profit motive out of providing the insurance product, and providing more control over marketing and benefit design of DirigoChoice.

Legislation to require insurers and allow employers to extend a child’s insurance coverage on a parent’s plan until the age of 25, regardless of whether or not the child is in school, also LD 841 followed closely a recommendation of the Dirigo Health Blue Ribbon Commission.

Another proposal recommended by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Dirigo Health, embodied in LD 1849, calls for the investigation of health care cost drivers. The legislation specifically expands the membership and duties of the Advisory Council on Health Systems Development and charges the body with identifying specific potential reductions in total health care spending without shifting costs onto consumers.

LD 1812 expands the Public Health Work Group and charges it with submitting a plan to the Legislature to build and coordinate a public health infrastructure in the state. The plan must include how to promote the system through existing resources over the next five years.

“These 18 bills provide further evidence that Maine is the leader in health care reform and in efforts to expand access to quality affordable health care,” said Governor Baldacci. “I’m proud of the efforts of the Legislature to take on these issues successfully and I’m very pleased to sign these bills.”

The Governor was joined by Legislative leadership, relevant committee members, sponsors, cosponsors and consumer advocates and organizations. The bill list follows below. For more information on the 18 bills, which were celebrated today, go to http://janus.state.me.us/legis/

LD 4 - "An Act To Amend the Prescription Privacy Law," Sponsored by Rep. Faircloth

LD 101 - "An Act to Enhance Screening for Breast Cancer," Sponsored by Rep. Haskell

LD 144 - "An Act to Support Maine's Free Clinics," Sponsored by Sen. Sullivan

LD 243 - "An Act To Establish November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month," Sponsored by Sen. Mitchell

LD 429 - "An Act to Improve Access to HIV Testing in Health Care Settings" Sponsored by Rep. Miller

LD 431 - "An Act to Enable the Dirigo Health Program to be Self-Administered," Sponsored by Rep. Conover

LD 792 - "An At Concerning Postpartum Mental Health Education," Sponsored by Sen. Sullivan

LD 807 - "An Act To Prevent Overcharging for Prescription Drug Copayments," Sponsored by Rep. Treat

LD 839 - "An Act To Establish a Prescription Drug Academic Detailing Program," Sponsored by Rep. Treat

LD 841 - "An Act To Extend Health Insurance Coverage for Dependent Children up to 25 Years of Age," Sponsored by Rep. Barstow

LD 995 - "An Act To Reduce the Expense of Health Care Treatment and Protect the Health of Maine Citizens by Providing Early Screening, Detection and Prevention of Cancer," Sponsored by Sen. Marrach�

LD 1044 - "An Act To Address Eating Disorders in Maine," Sponsored by Rep. Tuttle

LD 1129 - "An Act To Increase Access to Oral Health Care" Sponsored by Rep. Pendleton

LD 1440 - "An Act To Prohibit Inappropriate Software Advertising of Prescription Drugs," Sponsored by Rep. Treat

LD 1514 - "An Act to Require Health Insurance Coverage for Hearing Aides," Sponsored by Sen. Sullivan

LD 1786 - "An Act To Reduce the Spread of Infectious Disease through Shared Hypodermic Apparatuses," Sponsored by Rep. Miller

LD 1812 – “Resolve, Regarding the Role of Local Regions in Maine's Emerging Public Health Infrastructure”

LD 1849 - "An Act To Protect Consumers from Rising Health Care Costs," Sponsored by Sen. Bartlett

Source: Maine Governor