Hundreds of laws approved by the Legislature this year are now beginning to go into effect. Among them is a unanimous bill allowing health care providers to charge uninsured patients for COVID-19 vaccines that went unsigned by Gov. Janet Mills (D).
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 bill repealing this statute 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.”
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 on September 4, 2024.
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.
Now that 90 days have elapsed since the Legislature adjourned sine die, officially ending their session, the repeal will now take effect.
This 90-day clock applies to all non-emergency bills and resolutions approved during the legislative session. Legislation given an emergency designation and passed by a supermajority of both chambers is able to take effect as soon as it is signed into law by the governor.
