Bill > LD93

This bill expands the Universal Childhood Immunization Program in Maine to include adults, transforming it from a children-only program to a comprehensive immunization program covering all individuals in the state. The bill modifies existing law to replace references to "childhood" with more inclusive language about "individuals" and makes several key changes to the program's structure. It establishes new provisions for vaccine selection, including considering vaccines available through various federal and bulk purchase options, and introduces an Assessment Adjustment Factor (AAF) to help maintain equity in assessment allocations among different health insurance carriers. The bill also adjusts the Maine Vaccine Board's operations, reducing the required annual meetings from four to two and modifying board member term lengths. Financially, the bill creates subfunds by age and coverage type and sets up a mechanism for quarterly assessments. Additionally, it provides for two new Public Health Educator positions and anticipates cost savings in the MaineCare program by procuring vaccines at discounted rates. The expanded program aims to increase access to recommended vaccines for all Maine residents, with implementation scheduled to begin on July 1, 2026.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=93&snum=132