A bill repealing the prohibition against charging uninsured patients for COVID-19 vaccinations that received unanimous support in the Legislature became law without Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) signature at the end of April.
Under a statute approved in 2021, health care providers have been barred from charging uninsured patients for any costs associated with administering a COVID-19 vaccine.
The more recent bill that is now law was sponsored by Rep. Joshua K. Morris (R-Turner) and cosponsored by a handful of other Republican legislators, including Rep. Reagan L. Paul (R-Winterport), Rep. Jennifer L. Poirier (R-Skowhegan), Rep. Tracy L. Quint (R-Hodgdon), and Rep. Gregory Lewis Swallow (R-Houlton).
“Whatever logic may have existed for this policy in 2021 no longer exists today,” explained Rep. Morris in testimony introducing this legislation.
“At the time, much of the vaccine material supplied to Maine providers was free of charge,” he continued. “While there are costs beyond just the material —for example, staff time to administer the vaccine, paperwork etc. — I was comfortable supporting this provision in 2021.”
“Although, I will say I did propose sun-setting this provision as well as others,” he added.
“Vaccine material is no longer supplied for free and there is no longer a worldwide pandemic of COVID-19,” said Morris. “As such, it is past time that we remove a state law mandating that healthcare professionals give away their services for free. We should be reasonable with the use of our power and repeal this law to help our providers.”
Northern Light Health also offered testimony in support of this bill, noting that the Federal Bridge program that covered the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for uninsured patients ended about eight months ago, on September 4, 2024.
“The bill before you today reflects the reality that we must purchase COVID-19 vaccine like any other medication and allows us to bill uninsured patients for the vaccine and associated administration,” they said. “Northern Light Health estimates that we would charge someone paying without insurance approximately $117 for this service.”
The Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee went on to unanimously recommend that this bill be passed, ultimately resulting in its approval by the full Legislature in early April without any roll call votes being taken.
Later that month, the bill became law without Gov. Mills’ signature on April 27.
