Maine Medical Association Comes Out in Force on Top Legislative Priorities Before the Maine Legislature
It was the busiest week yet, by far, for the Maine Medical Association’s physician membership, government affairs staff and statewide specialty society leaders on predetermined core policy priorities.
LD 967, An Act To Make Possession of Scheduled Drugs for Personal Use a Civil Penalty, was tabled by the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Testimony in support from MMA Public Health Committee members, Daniel Oppenheim, MD (committee co-chair testimony), and Lani Graham, MD (testimony), were joined by Deborah Hagler, MD (testimony), president of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Countless MMA members came out in strong support of LD 1550, An Act To End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products during a Friday, May 7 public hearing before the Committee on Health and Human Services. The following MMA members submitted written testimony in support of the bill:
· Norma Dreyfus, MD, Arrowsic—testimony
· Geoff Gratwick, MD, Bangor—testimony
· Deborah Hagler, MD, Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics—testimony
· Jennifer Jewell, MD, Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics—testimony
· Perry Bassett, MD, Washington County—testimony
· Annie Coates, MD, MaineHealth testimony
· Lani Graham, MD, MMA Public Health Committee—testimony
Formal MMA testimony in support was also prepared and provided on behalf of the MMA’s Legislative Committee by MMA Director of Communication and Government Affairs, Dan Morin. Also speaking in favor of the bill during the public hearing were, Nirav Shah, MD (Maine CDC), Gretchen Pianka, MD, of Central Maine Pediatrics, Alyssa Goodwin, MD, Brunswick, and Dee Kerry (MMA staff and Executive Director for Maine AAP—testimony). A work session on the bill has been scheduled for Wednesday morning, May 12.
MMA members were also very active in opposing LD 926, HP 682 An Act To Ban Biological Males from Participating in Women’s Sports. The following testimony was provided in opposition to the bill:
· Deborah Hagler, MD, Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics—testimony
· Jennifer Jewell, MD, Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics—testimony
· Michelle Labotz, MD, Yarmouth—testimony
Formal MMA testimony in opposition was also prepared and provided on behalf of the MMA’s Legislative Committee by MMA Director of Communication and Government Affairs, Dan Morin.
The MMA and Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also submitted joint testimony in opposition to LD 1238, An Act To Protect Women’s Single-sex Shelters.
A host of bills to repeal the hard-fought gains in public health over the past few years concerning childhood immunizations/ The following pieces of legislation came before Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, Thursday, May 6th. Each one, partly, or as a whole, chips away at successful efforts to remove philosophical exemptions to childhood immunization laws in Maine.
· LD 96, An Act To Create Fairness in the Treatment of Students by Retaining Students with Certain Vaccine Exemptions
· LD 156, An Act To Promote School Attendance by Exempting Virtual Public Charter School and Private School Students from Immunization Requirements
· LD 833, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Vaccines by Reinstating Religious Exemptions
· LD 1082, An Act To Improve Educational Opportunities by Exempting Children Who Attend Virtual Public Charter Schools from Immunization Requirements and Expanding Enrollment at Virtual Public Charter Schools
A special thank you goes out to the following MMA members who provided verbal and/or written testimony against one or all of these dangerous bills, Laura Blaisdell, MD, Vice-President of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (testimony), Norma Dreyfus, MD (testimony), Deborah Hagler, MD (testimony), Greg D’Augustine, MD (testimony), Lani Graham, MD (testimony on behalf of the MMA and the MMA’s Public Health Committee)
The MMA also submitted testimony in support of the following bills this week during public hearings:
LD 1357, An Act To Require Private Insurance Coverage for Postpartum Care—MMA testimony
LD 1539, An Act To Provide Access to Fertility Care—MMA testimony
Firearms Safety
Testimony in support of LD 976, An Act To Amend the Definition of “Machine Gun” To Include Bump Stock Devices, was provided by Jennifer Jewell, MD, on behalf of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Maine AAP Vice-President, Laura Blaisdell, MD, submitted testimony in support of LD 999, An Act Regarding Background Checks for the Sale of Firearms.
Testimony of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics from President, Deborah Hagler, MD, in favor of LD 1454, An Act to Prohibit Untraceable and Undetectable Firearms. The MMA thanks member, Sam Zager, MD, for introducing such important legislation in his capacity as a Maine State Representative representing part of Portland. Thank you, Dr. Zager.
The time, efforts, and deep background knowledge and experiences of so many Maine physicians in advocating within the sometimes aggressive legislative arena on behalf of your patients, colleagues, and all the people of Maine has been nothing short of remarkable in 2021 after such a trying 2020. The MMA Board of Directors and staff greatly appreciates your efforts and proudly serve on your behalf every day and will continue to do so with great determination.