Maine Medicine Weekly Update - April 3, 2021  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
•  Some Small Independent Physician Practices to Receive COVID Vaccines for Patients Next Week
•  Committee Reconsiders, & Unanimously Votes Down Nursing Practice Bill
•  COVID-19 Pre-Registration & Appointment System Website: VaccinateME
•  Maine Legislature “Adjourns” After Passing Two-Year State Budget; Committee Work Continues
•  Maine Community Action Partnership is Working for a Successful Vaccine Roll Out for All
•  Next MMA Legislative Call Will Be Wednesday, April 7th
•  New Maine AAP Educational Webinar Series
•  PPE Available Through the MMA & ActionPPE
•  A Message from Maine Responds: Volunteer Opportunity
MAINE LEGISLATURE
•  Maine Legislature Week 12 Update
•  Newly Introduced Bills in the Maine Legislature Between March 12 and March 30
•  Maine Legislature Public Hearings and Work Sessions
UPCOMING EVENTS
•  Upcoming Specialty Society Meetings
•  Maine CDC Physicians To Host Regular Clinician COVID Vaccine Info Sessions
•  Suicide Prevention and Management in Healthcare Practice Settings: A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Approach
•  AAP EQIPP Course: Immunizations - Strategies for Success (for RURAL Health Providers)
HEALTHCARE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
•  Nurse Practitioner
•  Medical Director - ME License Required
•  Practice Administrator
•  Physician
•  Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
•  Belgrade Regional Health Center Seeks a Physician (BC/BE in Family Medicine)

Maine Legislature “Adjourns” After Passing Two-Year State Budget; Committee Work Continues

The Maine Legislature passed the next two-year state budget this week mostly along party lines with only two of the 102 Democrats in the House and Senate voting against the process—not necessarily the budget itself. No Republican in either the House of the Senate voted for the new budget objecting to the process and lack of bipartisan agreement.

The Maine Legislature passed the next two-year state budget this week mostly along party lines with only two of the 102 Democrats in the House and Senate voting against the process—not necessarily the budget itself. No Republican in either the House of the Senate voted for the new budget objecting to the process and lack of bipartisan agreement. 

The ‘baseline’ biennial state budget, which covers state spending for two years starting July 1 of this year, was a passed late Wednesday. The Legislature than formally adjourned after voting to back for a Special Session on April 28 to finish taking up remaining legislation and possibly reconsider a Supplemental Budget to adjust the just passed state budget. Governor Mills quickly signed the budget into law. 

Despite formally ending the Regular Session, state legislative committee are continuing their work on remaining bills that will eventually be voted on when legislators return to Special Session in late April. 

More detailed analysis on the politics of recent legislative action concerning the state budget and the reasons for adjournment can be found in last week’s Maine Medicine Weekly Update: “Maine Legislative Calendar In Flux.” 

Please contact MMA Director of Communications and Government Affairs, Dan Morin at dmorin@mainemed.com or by phone at 207-480-4199 for more information on MMA advocacy efforts, public hearing schedules, or bills and public policy issues of interest to you or your organization. 

Priority legislative updates on MMA issues of importance can also be found Facebook and Twitter.