Sen. Carney bills to protect and support young families in Maine receive committee approval
AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, two bills sponsored by Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, to support young families received committee support. LD 372, “An Act To Provide Maine Children Access to Affordable Health Care,” was approved 7-5, and LD 265, “An Act To Provide Women Access to Affordable Postpartum Care,” was approved 7-5, with one member absent on each vote, in the Legislature’s Committee on Health and Human Services.
“Maine families have been struck hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. This public health crisis has revealed major gaps in our safety nets and especially our health care system. Now more than ever, young families need all the support we can give them,” said Sen. Carney. “I’m grateful to the committee for their thoughtful consideration and support of these bills.”
LD 372 would make several changes to the Cub Care program, also known as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Those changes include expanding the maximum eligibility level for family income from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to 300 percent of the federal poverty level; eliminating the three-month waiting period for enrollment after the loss of employer-based coverage; expanding coverage through ages 19 and 20; and eliminating premium payments.
As amended, LD 265 would extend the period of time after giving birth that a mother may be eligible for services under MaineCare from 60 days to 12 months. This legislation allows Maine families to benefit from federal funds included in the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, providing a full year of postpartum care for those receiving MaineCare benefits during pregnancy. Additionally, the bill would require the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to report to the committee on the efficacy of the program.
“The postpartum period is a medically vulnerable period for many women,” said Rita Furlow, Senior Policy Analyst at the Maine Children’s Alliance, in testimony supporting LD 265. “A 2020 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one quarter of all pregnancy related deaths of women occurred between 43 days and one year following child birth. These deaths are highly preventable if women are receiving regular access to care. Providing high-quality care for mothers up to one year after birth can identify potential issues and ensure women are aware of the warning signs so they can connect to prompt follow-up care.”
“Good health and well-being requires a strong start and we should do all we can to reduce the number of uninsured children in Maine. According to the 2018 Kids Count report, approximately 14,500 Maine children (approximately 6 percent) were uninsured,” said Kathy Kilrain del Rio, a policy analyst with Maine Equal Justice, in testimony supporting LD 327. “More than half of the children in Maine receive health care coverage through their parents’ employers. The volatility of the past year has demonstrated how fragile access to employer health care coverage can be.”
LD 372 and LD 265 now go to the Senate and House for further votes.