With strong vote, Health Coverage Committee endorses Sen. Donna Bailey bill to protect access to affordable health care for Mainers in rural communities
AUGUSTA — On Thursday, May 8, the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted in favor of 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 health care services to their patients.
“As the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, I remain deeply committed to making health care more affordable and accessible for Mainers across the district and the state,” said Sen. Bailey. “With this bill, we are taking action to preserve and protect the critical 340B program. For decades, since it was first established, 340B has helped community health centers and clinics provide essential health care to residents. It is particularly important for Mainers in rural areas who would otherwise have to travel long distances to seek help for their medical needs.”
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
In testimony for the public hearing on the bill, Kristopher Ravin from Penobscot Community Health Care commented on the benefits of the 340B program for community health clinics: “In 2013, more than 1,300 patients at PCHC were prescribed chronic daily opioids, with an average dosage equivalent to 290 mg of morphine per day. Thanks to the savings generated by the 340B program, we were able to launch a comprehensive and compassionate tapering initiative. Over 1,000 patients were successfully tapered off opioids entirely. The number of patients receiving more than 100 mg of morphine equivalents per day was reduced to fewer than five. Simultaneously, we significantly expanded access to recovery services across our organization.”
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.
During the work session, the Committee slightly amended the bill to increase the transparency of the program. In the coming weeks, the Committee will report out the bill and send it to the Senate and House for votes.
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