Sen. Brenner bill to require insurance coverage for PFAS blood serum testing signed into law
AUGUSTA — Last week, Gov. Janet T. Mills signed into law legislation sponsored by Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough. LD 582 will require insurance providers to cover the cost of medically necessary blood serum testing for PFAS.
“In health care, knowledge is power. Understanding risk factors, whether genetic or environmental, that may increase a patient’s susceptibility to serious health conditions is crucial to protecting long-term health through informed monitoring and preventative treatment plans,” said Sen. Brenner. “PFAS exposure is one such factor that high-risk Mainers deserve to understand. This law will ensure that PFAS blood serum testing is accessible to all Mainers in need, not just those with income to spare.”
Dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not break down over time into less harmful compounds, PFAS are manmade chemicals linked to health concerns like cancer, liver damage, birth defects and high cholesterol. The exposure risk is particularly high among Maine’s agricultural workers due to the decades-long practice of applying PFAS-contaminated wastewater sludge to farmland as fertilizer. Once detected, health care providers can recommend preventative treatment and annual screening to minimize the risks associated with PFAS exposure.
Maine has taken great strides to limit the environmental and public health threat posed by PFAS contamination, developing some of the strictest regulations in the country. Maine became the first state to ban the use of PFAS in most consumer products in 2021 and the first state to ban the application of PFAS-contaminated wastewater sludge as fertilizer on farmland in 2022.
Still, many communities face high exposure to PFAS and, for many, the $450 to $600 price tag on blood serum tests is a prohibitive financial barrier to screening and preventative care. LD 582 will increase access by requiring coverage of medically necessary PFAS blood serum tests under all health plans offered in Maine, beginning January 1, 2027. This bill incorporates PFAS blood serum testing into existing Maine law, which already mandates coverage for other preventative screenings and chronic disease management.
As non-emergency legislation, LD 582 will take effect as law 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.
Sen. Brenner is serving her third term in the Maine Senate, representing Gorham and most of Scarborough. She sits on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
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