Rep. Kristi Mathieson

Maddy summaryMaine LD 2202 requires health care entities to send a copy of their federal premerger notification to the state Attorney General at the same time they file with the Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice. This applies to entities headquartered in Maine or those generating at least 20% of the federal filing threshold in annual revenue within the state. The bill defines covered health care entities to include hospitals, clinics, and provider organizations, while explicitly excluding nursing facilities. Failure to provide this notice results in a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day, and the submitted information is kept confidential except for specific legal disclosures or sharing with other states that have similar laws.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution designates April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Maine to raise public awareness about the issue. It emphasizes that preventing child abuse requires a collaborative effort involving government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations. The bill also highlights how access to financial resources, stable housing, and quality education supports healthy child development.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program by requiring employers with self-insured private plans to post a financial bond with a state-authorized surety company. It also prohibits these employers from pooling risk, financial resources, or administrative functions with other employers in the program. The changes apply retroactively to April 1, 2025, affecting any self-insured plans operating under the program from that date forward.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands vaccine access in Maine by allowing licensed pharmacists to prescribe, dispense, and administer FDA-approved vaccines without requiring a doctor's prescription for eligible patients. It requires health insurance plans and the MaineCare program to cover all vaccines without deductibles, copayments, or other out-of-pocket costs, including coverage for off-label vaccine use. Pharmacists can administer influenza vaccines to people aged 3 and older, and other CDC-recommended vaccines to adults 18 and older, with additional authority for COVID-19 vaccines to those aged 3 and older. The legislation also clarifies legal definitions for off-label use and medically accepted indications to support these expanded prescribing and administration powers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefits managers to allow covered individuals to pick up their prescriptions at a network pharmacy if a mail order pharmacy delays delivery by more than one day or sends the medication in unusable condition. It directly affects people enrolled in health plans that use mail order pharmacies and the pharmacy benefits managers who administer those plans. The law ensures continued access to necessary medications by providing an alternative dispensing option when mail order services fail to meet expected delivery standards or provide damaged products. This change aims to prevent treatment interruptions caused by mail order pharmacy issues without mandating specific delivery timelines for the pharmacies themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Maine's optometry practice laws to clarify the scope of services optometrists can provide. It explicitly permits optometrists to prescribe hydrocodone combination products and other controlled substances (such as schedule III-V drugs) for eye conditions, while listing specific procedures excluded from optometry practice (e.g., corneal transplants, retinal surgery, and surgeries requiring general anesthesia). The bill also requires optometrists to meet board-established credentialing standards before performing any ophthalmic surgery or laser procedures. These changes directly affect Maine optometrists by defining their prescribing authority and procedural boundaries.

Maddy summaryLD 882 adds critical incident stress management peer support to the legal definition of "health care" in Maine law, protecting communications between these providers and people they assist. The bill designates peer support providers as mandatory reporters for suspected child abuse or neglect, requiring them to report such cases under state law. It establishes a legal privilege preventing these providers from being forced to testify about confidential communications during peer support sessions, except when a person's physical or mental condition is in question or a court deems disclosure necessary for justice. This protects the confidentiality of sensitive support conversations while ensuring child safety reporting obligations are met.

Maddy summaryMaine's Department of Health and Human Services is directed to develop a hub-and-spoke model for dental services to improve access across the state, particularly in areas with low population density. The department must also explore establishing residency programs for dental specialists such as pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists. To guide these efforts, the bill requires the department to consult with stakeholders including the University of New England College of Dental Medicine and various dental professional associations. By February 15, 2027, the department must submit a report containing its findings and suggested legislation to relevant legislative committees for further review.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing laws to prevent creditors from placing liens on a person's primary home for unpaid medical bills. It also stops courts from collecting interest that accumulates on medical debt after the law takes effect. These protections apply to individuals whose homes are being targeted for medical debt collection and limit how much interest can be added to such debts. The legislation aims to shield homeowners from losing their residences due to medical expenses and reduce the financial burden of interest on unpaid medical bills.

Maddy summaryThis Maine bill requires hospitals to submit a formal notice to the state department at least 120 days before closing labor and delivery units or changing the level of maternity and newborn care services. The notification must include the effective date, reasons for the change, contact information, and details on how the hospital will handle emergency obstetric care. Hospitals must also document their efforts to notify surrounding facilities within 50 miles, local emergency services, affected patients, and the general public. These provisions are designed to ensure transparency and allow communities adequate time to prepare for changes in essential healthcare services.