Sen. Bailey introduces bill to protect affordable health care and prescription drugs for Mainers in rural communities

Posted: April 16, 2025 | Senator Bailey

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, April 16, the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee conducted a public hearing for a bill sponsored by Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco. LD 1018, “An Act to Protect Health Care for Rural and Underserved Areas by Prohibiting Discrimination by Participants in a Federal Drug Discount Program,” would preserve and protect the 340B program in Maine. 340B helps safety net providers — such as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and non-profit hospitals — provide prescription drugs at discounted prices to their patients.

“For over thirty years, the 340B program has provided resources to providers so that they can maintain access to high-quality care for our rural and underserved communities,” said Sen. Bailey. “But recently, the pharmaceutical industry unilaterally decided to change years of practice. They began to prohibit hospitals and FQHCs from forming cost-saving partnerships with local providers and pharmacies to serve their patients, greatly reducing access to these savings and leaving Mainers to foot the bill. With this bill, we can preserve and protect this vital cost-saving program.”

As introduced, LD 1018 is a non-discrimination bill that would prohibit the pharmaceutical industry from forcing hospitals and FQHCs to enter into partnerships that do not offer the 340B program. The bill accomplishes this by:

  • Prohibiting discrimination by manufacturers.
  • Prohibiting discrimination by others such as carriers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). 
  • Giving enforcement responsibility to the Attorney General and authorizing a private right of action by covered entities.

Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi and West Virginia have already passed laws to protect access to the 340B program. Maine has 144 Federally Qualified Health Centers, with locations from Aroostook to York County.

In the coming weeks, the Committee will schedule a work session for LD 1018.

###