Sen. Reny bill to remove barriers to health care enacted by full Legislature

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, the Maine Senate voted unanimously to enact a bill from Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol. As amended, LD 722, “An Act to Expedite the Health Insurance Referral Process for Specialists by Allowing Referrals During Urgent Care Visits,” would help Maine patients access needed physical therapy and behavioral health care in a timely, efficient manner.

“I know this bill will make a meaningful difference for Mainers, and help them access the care they need, when they need it. We hear all the time about the insurance red tape patients need to cut through just to see a provider. As a school counselor, it’s heartbreaking to see when this barrier stands in the way of kids getting the mental health care they need,” said Sen. Reny. “I’m grateful to my fellow legislators for their strong support of this bill, and I look forward to seeing it become law.”

As amended by committee, LD 722 would prohibit health insurance companies from denying payment for any behavioral health care service or physical therapy service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the patient’s referral was not made by the enrollee’s primary care provider, as long as the referral is made by a provider during an urgent care visit and the provider notifies their primary care provider of the referral. The requirements apply beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

A national survey conducted in 2022 by AMN HealthCare and Merritt Hawkins shows that wait times to see a primary care physician have increased by 8% since 2017 and by 24% since 2004. This translates to an average wait time of 26 days to schedule a new patient physician appointment. The survey also highlights that the wait times for certain specialties, such as orthopedic surgery, also have increased significantly.

According to Northern Light Acadia Hospital and the CEO of Kennebec Behavioral Health, waitlists for mental health specialists are months long, with many patients waiting 15 to 30 weeks to get an appointment.

The Maine Bureau of Insurance testified in favor of LD 722.

The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has ten days to either sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.