Mills introduces health insurance bill as Legislature second session begins
Photo / Maureen Milliken
The second session of the 129th Maine Legislature began Wednesday with Gov. Janet Mills introducing a health care bill to put Maine in control of its health insurance marketplace.
The 129th Maine Legislature convened its second session Wednesday, kicking off the three-month session with consideration of a new health care bill unveiled today by Gov. Janet Mills.
Mills, in a noon press conference, unveiled a bill that "sets Maine-specific deductibles and copays, offers a Maine solution for small businesses, and creates a Marketplace designed to best meet the needs of Maine people," she said. It's sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash; House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport.
The session, which ends April 15, will consider more than 600 "emergency" bills, governor-introduced legislation, citizen initiatives and bills held over from the first session.
L.D. 2007, the Made for Maine Health Coverage Act, will establish a Maine-specific marketplace for private health insurance, using the federal platform to enroll individuals and small businesses. The move requires an act of the Legislature.
Mills in August notified the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service that the state will take action to run its own health insurance marketplace. Maine currently relies on the federal government to operate the state marketplace. But states have the choice to run their marketplaces independently, or with help from the feds.
Jackson said, “Access to health care is about freedom. It’s something I’ve said over and over again because it’s true, and I know what that means for working people. It means the difference between going to the doctor when you’re sick and putting your health – potentially your life – at risk.
While the Legislature last year passed several bills to make health care more affordable and accessible, "too many barriers still remain," he said. "When we said that we would do everything in our power to make health care more affordable and accessible, we meant it. With this bill, we begin to take the marketplace out of the hands of folks in Washington D.C. and put Maine people in charge."
Gideon, who's running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Susan Collins, said, "With ongoing uncertainty at the federal level, it’s critical that we craft lasting state policies that ensure stability and predictability for consumers here in Maine."
Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa said the bill, if approved, "will apply the same successful reinsurance model to the small group market that has been used to stabilize Maine’s individual market since January 2019." Mills a year ago signed an executive order to implement Medicaid expansion, which was approved by voters in November 2017, and brought insurance coverage to an estimated 70,000 state residents.
Supported by small-business group
In a statement released before the announcement, David Clough, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said the small-business advocacy organization is "pleased that Gov. Janet Mills is making this concern a top priority in 2020."
“The cost of health insurance has been a top concern for years among small business owners," Clough said. "Among other provisions, the Governor’s proposal attempts to make health insurance more affordable for small employers by merging the individual and small group markets, and by other approaches.
He said the organization is still evaluating Mills' proposal, and hasn't taken a stand on whether to support the bill, but "the legislation the governor is advocating represents a pragmatic approach instead of radical reforms contained in some legislation being considered this year."
Mills to recall bills
Other bills expected to be taken up by the Legislature include a variety of health care-related bills, several that would expand broadband access.
Earlier today, Mills welcomed the second session, saying she is recalling several bills from the first session, which may be amended and, if passed by the House and Senate, sent back to her for signing.
"I look forward to working with the Legislature to continue to tackle health insurance issues, to support quality early and adult education, to strengthen our economy and expand our workforce, and to protect Maine people from the impacts of climate change," she said. "By tackling these issues, Maine can and will continue to make progress for its people and future generations.”
On recalling nine13 bills, Mills said that she takes "very seriously my Constitutional obligation to review legislation, consider its implications, and decide whether it is in the best interest of Maine people."
“I also take very seriously my responsibility to work with — and not against — the Legislature to find solutions to our problems and to enact good public policy for our state. By recalling these bills from my desk, the Legislature and I will have additional time to work together to amend them and to make sure that we arrive at a result that we all believe is workable and beneficial for Maine.”
Mills also has 27 bills in front of her, and has until Saturday to either veto or allow held bills to become law. Those are bills that were passed less than 10 days before the Legislature adjourned in June.
Details of bills can be found at legislature.maine.gov/bills.
Second chance bills
Bills held on the governor's desk may be recalled, with sponsors in the House and Senate. They are:
LD 766 “An Act Regarding the Penobscot Nation’s and Passamaquoddy Tribe’s Authority To Exercise Jurisdiction under the Federal Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 and the Federal Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013”
LD 775 “An Act To Expand Community Support Services for Certain Adult Members of the MaineCare Program”
LD 1016 “Resolve, To Require the Construction of a New District Headquarters Building for the Bureau of Forestry in Fort Kent”
LD 1294 “Resolve, Directing the Maine Human Rights Commission To Implement a Pilot Program To Investigate and Report on Incidents of Harassment Due to Housing Status, Lack of Employment and Other Issues.”
LD 1315 “An Act To Support Medically Monitored Crisis Support and Intervention.”
LD 1342 “An Act To Establish the Maine Workforce, Research, Development and Student Achievement Institute.”
LD 1426 “An Act To Increase Protections for Land Installment Contracts.”
LD 1453 “An Act To Improve Dental Health for Maine Children and Adults with Low Incomes.”
LD 1612 “An Act Regarding the Presumption of Abandonment of Gift Obligations.”
LD 1670 "An Act To Limit the Dissemination of Juvenile Records."
LD 1698 “An Act To Create Jobs and Slow Climate Change by Promoting the Production of Natural Resources Bioproducts.”
LD 1703 “An Act To Improve Consistency within the Maine Human Rights Act.”
LD 1756 "An Act To Improve Public Safety through Coordinated Reentry of Prisoners into the Community."
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