Tim Nangle: Supporting healthcare access and affordability for all Mainers

By Senator Tim Nangle

With the legislative session behind us, I'm glad to be home in Windham, attending local events and reconnecting with people in our community. Hearing your concerns firsthand has reinforced the importance of the work we've accomplished. It's also given me time to reflect on the important achievements of this session, especially the health care initiatives I supported, both while serving on the Health and Human Services Committee and through broader legislative efforts.

State Senator 
Tim Nangle

A key achievement of this session was the full funding of the state’s share of MaineCare through our Part 1 and Part 2 budgets (LD 609 and LD 210). By closing a projected funding gap, we safeguarded essential health services for thousands of Mainers, particularly low-income families, older adults, children and individuals with disabilities. These critical investments mean families across our state won't face disruptions in their health care.

For individuals diagnosed with hearing loss, we passed LD 167, “An Act to Provide 2 Hearing Aids to MaineCare Members with Diagnosed Hearing Loss.” This will significantly improve the quality of life and health outcomes for hearing-impaired Mainers by ensuring access to two hearing aids rather than just one.

Every Mainer deserves dignity and high-quality care, particularly in later stages of life or when facing serious health challenges. That's why we prioritized improving care and conditions within nursing facilities and Maine’s Veterans Homes by investing an additional $6.5 million. This funding will support workforce retention and directly benefit the Maine residents who live in these facilities and rely on these critical services.

Recognizing the tireless efforts of our direct care workforce, we included increased support for their cost-of-living adjustments. These dedicated workers provide essential care to older Mainers and individuals with disabilities. Ensuring fair compensation is crucial for worker retention and maintaining the quality of care our communities depend on.

Supporting emergency response workers is particularly personal for me, having previously served as a police officer and paramedic. This session, we permanently established the workers’ compensation presumption for PTSD through LD 82, ensuring that police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, corrections officers, and emergency dispatchers receive timely care and support for trauma endured while protecting our communities. I know firsthand the challenges these dedicated professionals face, and I’m deeply committed to supporting their mental and emotional well-being.

Insurance companies shouldn’t dictate which treatments a patient needs based on cost. That’s why we passed LD 178, “An Act Regarding Coverage for Step Therapy for Metastatic Cancer,” to help patients get the treatments they need when it matters most. This law prevents insurance companies from making patients try and fail with ineffective treatments before they can get the most effective therapies for metastatic breast cancer, ensuring faster, and potentially life-saving care.

Tackling prescription drug affordability, we enacted two significant measures regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). LD 180, “An Act Regarding Reimbursements by Health Insurance Carriers or Pharmacy Benefits Managers to Pharmacies,” prohibits PBMs from under-reimbursing pharmacies, protecting Mainers from artificially inflated drug costs. Similarly, we passed LD 1580, “An Act to Prohibit Carriers and Pharmacy Benefits Managers from Using Spread Pricing.” This new law bans PBMs from charging health plans more than pharmacies are reimbursed for medications, directly reducing prescription costs for Mainers.

We also strengthened our commitment to the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to further support rural and underserved communities. This program allows eligible health care providers, including hospitals and clinics, to buy medications at discounted prices and reinvest those savings in patient care. By bolstering this program, we’re increasing access to vital medications and quality health care access across Maine.

These measures reflect the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to strengthening health care across Maine. I’m honored to serve our community and advocate for policies that prioritize Maine’s health and well-being. There's more work ahead, and I'll continue fighting to ensure every Mainer has access to affordable, dependable and quality health care.

For the latest, follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/SenatorTimNangle, sign up for my e-newsletter at mainesenate.org, or contact me directly at Tim.Nangle@legislature.maine.gov. You can also call the Senate Majority Office at 207-287-1515.

The opinions in this column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Windham Eagle newspaper ownership or its staff. <