Summary of Maine’s Health Care Affordability Bill
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In Brief
On November 30, 2021, Rep. Richard Evans (D) introduced a bill (LD 1778) in the House of Representatives that directs the Office of Affordable Health Care to analyze the barriers to affordable health care and coverage and develop recommendations for lawmakers to consider. If the bill is approved, the findings and recommendations, due to the legislature by January 1, 2023, could serve as a starting for legislation to create a public option health benefit plan.
The bill currently features eight Democrat cosponsors. On January 11, the Joint Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services convened a hearing for the bill in which representatives from insurance companies and physician groups, as well as members of the public testified. On January 20, 2022, eight members of the Joint Committee voted to advance the bill, while four members opposed the bill, resulting in a divided report. The bill must first be unanimously reported out of Committee before further consideration by the legislature and the Committee currently has no further work sessions scheduled. Maine’s legislative session ends April 20. Additional details on the study requirements follow.
Study Requirements
The Office of Affordable Health Care is required to study the effects of certain policies that are intended to improve health care affordability and coverage, including but not limited to the following:
Creating a public option health benefit plan;
Creating a Medicaid buy-in program;
Increasing enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by increase income eligibility levels;
Providing state-level subsidies to populations that do not qualify for federal subsidies; and
Other policies identified by the Office of Affordable Health Care.
The Office must also analyze how such policies affect affordability of premiums in the individual and small group health insurance markets; and the effects of the policies on enrollment in comprehensive health coverage.
With Support from Arnold Ventures