Health Care Highlights from the 123rd Legislature

Senior Health a Priority

Retirement should be a time for relaxation and enjoying family and friends. Unfortunately, too many seniors find themselves burdened by health care costs or targeted by unscrupulous businesses. We took a number of steps this year to protect retirees. The state budget reflects this commitment. It funds the low-cost drugs for the elderly program [DEL] and expands support for long-term care, home-based care, and nursing homes.

Enhanced Mammogram Screening Available:

Health insurance companies and health maintenance groups must now provide coverage for follow-up mammograms if, after a regular screening, a person’s doctors deems it necessary.

No Advertising in Public Schools & Use of Tobacco Prohibited

Advertising of brand-specific food & beverages will now be prohibited in public school buildings or on school grounds and tobacco use in the buildings or on the grounds of any elementary or secondary school is also prohibited. The exception is that if a designated smoking area is part of a school’s collective bargaining agreement, it remains in effect until a new contract is negotiated.

Post Partum Depression Recognized as Serious Issue for Many

Post partum depression affects many women and has not, until this year, been properly addressed. Now, the Department of Health & Human Services is required, in coordination with the Maine Primary Care Association, to convene a working group to review Maine’s current effort, as well as screening and educational programs being used in other states. Findings & proposed legislation to better address this serious issue is to be submitted for review by the legislative committee next year.

Dependent Insurance Coverage Expanded

Under certain conditions, individual and group health insurance providers must now offer coverage for dependent children up to the age of 25 years.

Hearing Aids to be Covered by Insurance

Beginning January 1, 2008, insurance companies must now provide coverage for persons from birth to 5 years of age. Beginning January 1, 2009, children from 6 to 13 years of age will be covered and on January 1, 2010, those from 14 to 18 years of age will be added. There is a benefit limit of $1,400 per hearing aid over 36 months.

Continuing to Lead the Way on Lead

To further protect children from lead exposure, we have enacted legislation that will require a landlord to provide sufficient notice for any renovations or remodeling activity that may generate the risk of lead hazards.

Ensuring Safe Maine Homes

To improve the quality of life for Mainers, we banned “deca” from being used as a flame retardant in a number of household items including furniture, tvs, computers, and mattresses. This harmful chemical poses a threat to the well-being and safety of pregnant women and children. This is great news because “deca” can be eliminated without increasing the possibility of fire in homes given that there are effective flame retardants already in widespread use that are far safer for people, animals, and the environment.

And You Thought Your Dog Drinking Out of the Toilet Was Bad…

To better protect your family cat or dog, this legislature put the “freeze” on a chemical used in engine coolant and antifreeze. Ethylene glycol will soon require an inedible bittering agent to deter your pets from wanting to ingest the fluid.

Staying Safe in the Summertime

As we enjoy the hot summer days, it is easy for one to stray outside and spend countless hours soaking up the sun, caring for the lawn or garden, washing the car, reading, relaxing, or doing whatever we can outdoors. Heck, after a long, cold winter, no one can fault any Mainer for wanting to spend as much time as possible outside. Unfortunately, this may be why Lyme disease is on the rise here in Maine. To address the threat of Lyme disease, a new law was passed directing the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake public education efforts of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Upon conclusion, the Maine CDC will submit legislation relating to Lyme Disease next Legislative Session.

It is important to take every precaution possible to reduce the chance of any interaction with a tick or other insect. For more information on how to protect you and others from ticks and other infectious insects, go to www.MainePublicHealth.Gov.

Updated August 2007

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