Health & Human Service

The HHS Committee held several work sessions this past week, on a variety of topics. On two bills dealing with obesity, LD 1111 and LD 1162, they tabled the broader bill for further discussion and voted "ought not to pass" (ONTP) on the one oriented to children. They also tabled LD 1108, which would mandate a full complement of public health nurses. LDs 1031 and 1363, dealing with opioids, were tabled, and LD 1325 (palliative care exemption) was voted ONTP. (This action does not affect the existing palliative care exemption, which remains in the statute and rules.) LD 479, which would have enacted a new law concerning informed consent for opioid prescribing, was amended and will, in its eventual form, require practices to establish policies for warning patients of the risks of opioids. 

DHHS

The Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Department of Education, held a hearing on a proposed rule change to add the meningococcal vaccine to the list of required vaccinations. Testimony in favor of the rule change, with suggested amendments, was provided by the Maine Immunization Coalition, the National Meningitis Association, and a vaccine manufacturer. All suggested that a 12th grade booster be added to the required 7th grade vaccination. There was no testimony in opposition to the rule.