Senate unanimously backs Sen. Reny bill to remove barriers to health care
AUGUSTA – On Thursday, the Maine Senate gave support to a bill from Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, that would help Maine patients access needed physical therapy and behavioral health care in a timely, efficient manner. An amended version of LD 722, “An Act to Expedite the Health Insurance Referral Process for Specialists by Allowing Referrals During Urgent Care Visits,” received unanimous approval in an initial vote.
“In my time working as a school counselor, I’ve worked with students who have unfortunately needed to go to emergency rooms or urgent care for mental health treatment. Doctors then direct them to find ongoing behavioral health care, only for their families to be told by their insurance company that they also need a referral from a primary care provider. It’s extra cost, time and red tape that delays patients from getting the care they clearly need,” said Sen. Reny. “I’m grateful to the committee for their work on this bill, and to my colleagues in the Senate for their strong support. This bill will make a real difference for many Mainers.”
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.
In Maine, Data from the American Medical Association shows that the number of providers per 10,000 children aged 0-17 years is concerning. While Cumberland County has 15.6 pediatricians per 10,000 children, other counties have shockingly low numbers, such as Somerset County, with only 1 pediatrician for every 10,000 children. 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 faces further votes in the House and Senate.
