Dion bill to increase access to medical care during disasters moves forward

A bill from Sen. Mark Dion, D-Portland, to increase access to medical care during natural disasters and other emergencies received a unanimous, bipartisan vote in the Legislature’s Committee on Labor, Research, Commerce and Economic Development on February 15, 2018.

As amended, LD 958, “An Act To Enact the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act,” provides legal protection to licensed physicians and health practitioners from other states who come into Maine to provide critical medical services when an emergency has been declared.

During those emergency situations, local resources are stretched thin. If they are able to provide care, there may be more patients than usual, and local care providers need more people and resources to meet everyone’s needs.

“This bill is a pre-emptive measure, but an important one for the safety and health of the people of Maine,” said Sen. Dion. “We should act now to ensure that if and when disaster strikes, people who want to come here to assist Mainers in need are able to do so.”

The bill also ensures that volunteers who come into Maine to help are licensed professionals who will conform both to the requirements of their home state and to Maine’s requirements.

LD 958 now faces an initial vote in the Senate.