Bill > LD582

This bill requires health insurance carriers in Maine to provide coverage for blood testing related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are a class of fluorinated chemical compounds. The bill defines PFAS and mandates that health insurers cover blood testing recommended by a healthcare provider as medically necessary, particularly when the patient meets clinical guidelines established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Importantly, the bill prohibits health plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirements like deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance for these PFAS blood tests, with a minor exception for health savings account plans pending federal tax guidance. The legislation applies to all health insurance policies, contracts, and certificates issued or renewed in Maine on or after January 1, 2026. The bill also includes a legislative finding that this coverage requirement does not expand the state's essential health benefits, as laboratory services are already included in current coverage. This legislation aims to ensure that individuals potentially exposed to PFAS can receive necessary medical testing without financial barriers.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=582&snum=132