Many of you know that in the Legislature, I serve as chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. As a farmer and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, it has been a privilege to serve in this role since I was first elected.
In addition, I’m also a member of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee, where I have the opportunity to work on issues I have seen firsthand as a nurse-midwife. I’ve seen patients struggle to afford their medications, and I’ve seen them worry about how much a visit to the doctor or a procedure will cost.
It’s not controversial to say that no one should ever have to choose between paying for a prescription or filling their fridge with food. In this committee, we largely focus our efforts on these high costs and lack of access to care that far too many Mainers struggle with on a daily basis.
This session, the HCIFS Committee has already passed three new pieces of legislation that build on our efforts to help folks get their medications and access care. The first bill is sponsored by my colleague Sen. Heather Sanborn, and goes after “copay accumulator programs,” which are implemented by some health insurers and essentially double-bill patients for their medication.
For folks who are dealing with chronic diseases, the medications they need to survive can be extremely costly and take a toll on their budget. Sometimes, these patients can find some limited financial help to afford the prescription. However, health insurers that have implemented copay accumulator programs don’t count that financial assistance toward the patient’s deductible or out-of-pock- et maximum. This effectively nullifies any benefit a patient might’ve received from the financial assistance, saddling them with costs they weren’t planning for. This practice is wrong and provides no benefit to a patient – we’re well on our way to ending it.
Another bill sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder will allow a pharmacist to dispense an emergency supply of a medication even if the person doesn’t have a current prescription. This will be allowed so long as there’s a history of a patient getting that same medicine in the past, and it’s not a controlled substance or opioid.
This bill is very important; Rep. Roeder cited her asthma and need for an emergency inhaler as an example. If you’re having an asthma attack and don’t have a working inhaler, the emergency supply from a pharmacy could literally save your life. Currently, however, a pharmacist may not be allowed to provide that. This bill will make a real difference in times of crisis.
The third bill I wanted to highlight is sponsored by Rep. Richard Evans, who is also a physician, would direct the newly established Maine Office of Affordable Health Care to analyze barriers to affordable health care and coverage here in Maine, and to make proposals to solve those issues.
The bill also requires the Office to submit a report back to the committee with these policy recommendations. Last year we passed a bill that created this office, and by now passing Rep. Evans’ bill, we can give it a clear charge and mission right off the bat.
These bills are just a small sample of the work we do in the HCIFS Committee. It’s my honor to work on your behalf fighting for policies that will make sure all Mainers can access the affordable, quality coverage that we all deserve.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, comments or ideas. You can send me an email at Stacy.Brenner@legislature.maine.gov or call my office at 287-1515.
Stacy Brenner is serving her first term in the Maine Senate, representing Senate District 30, which includes Gorham, part of Buxton, and part of Scarborough. She is the co-owner of Broadturn Farm in Scarborough and is also a certified nurse-midwife.
207-287-1515 | stacy.brenner@legislature.maine.gov