AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives unanimously voted Thursday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, that aims to improve health outcomes in the state through data collection from the Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO).
Across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed health inequities and disparities in people's access to health care. Maine, specifically, emerged as the state with the greatest racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 cases. LD 274 would direct the MHDO to determine the best methods and definitions to use in collecting data to better understand racial and ethnic disparities in the provision of health care in Maine.
The MHDO testified in support of the measure and noted that the purpose of the organization is to create and maintain reliable and comprehensive health information data used to improve the health of Maine citizens and promote transparency of the cost and quality of health care in Maine.
"As elsewhere in the country, the inequities that have recently come to light through the spread of COVID-19 were already present but, until now, we failed to notice and to comprehend their impact," said Tepler. "The time has come for us to wrestle with these disparities, understand where they are present and how we can best ameliorate them."
The MHDO will report back to the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Affairs Committee which methods and definitions they believe are best to adopt.
The measure now faces further votes in the Senate.
Tepler is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents all of the town of Topsham. She serves as the House chair of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Tepler], c. 812-1111