AUGUSTA - The Legislative Council voted earlier this month to advance two bill proposals sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would support the state's health care workforce by adding Maine to the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact and prohibiting the Maine Department of Health and Human Services from enforcing electronic visit verification practices among hospice care providers within the MaineCare program.
The Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact is an optional, interstate occupational licensure agreement. States that decide to join agree to recognize a license issued by another compact member state via a compact privilege, allowing PAs to more easily practice in member states.
"In Maine, we are facing a significant health care worker shortage," said Cloutier. "Joining the PA Licensure Compact will establish license reciprocity with other member states, removing administrative burdens and making it easier for PAs who are already licensed elsewhere to be able to work in our state. It will help us better ensure that our community members can access the crucial care they need."
Cloutier's second bill would prohibit the Maine Department of Health and Human Services from implementing electronic visit verification practices for providers who offer hospice care within the MaineCare program, unless mandated by the federal government.
"Currently, many hospice care providers within the MaineCare program are unable to comply with electronic visit verification due to increased administrative costs," said Cloutier. "Without the promise of increased fraud prevention, this practice is unnecessarily hurting our providers and families."
In addition to the two bills that were accepted by the Legislative Council, Cloutier is sponsoring two bills that have been carried over from the First Special Session of the 131st Legislature. LD 348 would require public schools serving sixth through 12th grades to make menstrual products available to students in school bathrooms. LD 1505 would amend the Maine Cooperative Affordable Housing Ownership Act to include group equity cooperatives and provide that a housing assistance program must be made reasonably available to residents of housing cooperatives.
The Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature will begin on Jan. 3, 2024.
Cloutier is the Assistant House Majority Leader and is currently serving her third consecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents House District 94, which includes part of Lewiston, her hometown.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Cloutier], 305-965-2744