Latest news with #MaineDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers throw support behind syringe exchange and disposal programs
A sharps disposal box sits beside Needlepoint Sancutary's set up at Camp Hope, an unhoused encampment in Bangor. The syringe service program hands out provisions and clean syringes along with kits containing fentanyl testing strips and the overdose reversal drug Naloxone. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) Lawmakers in both chambers of the Maine Legislature advanced legislation Thursday expanding access to needle exchange programs and funding proper disposal of syringe litter. Syringe service programs are nonprofits or municipalities certified by the state to hand out clean syringes in exchange for used ones as a method of harm reduction for those impacted with substance use disorder. The two bills — LD 1078 and LD 1738 — would allow the programs to expand their locations within the county they are certified to operate in and create a biohazard waste disposal program within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services that would offer grants to community organizations that incentivize proper disposal of used syringes. Both passed the House of Representatives after some debate with critics questioning the need to expand these programs, which are often blamed for creating excessive syringe litter. 'The potential for improperly discarded needles in parks, on sidewalks or in public bathrooms is not hypothetical. It is a reality in cities that have expanded similar programs without adequate controls,' said Rep. Kathy Javner (R-Chester). Proponents of the bills pointed to support among medical providers and harm reduction experts, who have vouched for the programs' effectiveness in preventing disease transmission. They also said the proposed grant program would incentivize safe needle disposal and allow communities to come up with their own solutions to syringe litter disposal, with partial funding from the state. 'We know that when people have access to safe disposal, we all benefit with the right tools, we can reduce the risk of disease transmission, protect public spaces and build trust across divides,' said Rep. Julie McCabe (D-Lewiston). 'We do not need to choose between the health of our communities and the health of individuals. We can have both.' Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor) pointed to Portland's needle buyback program, which the city estimates has helped reduce syringe litter by 76% and resulted in a 58% increase in used syringe return. Participants can earn 10 cents per used needle they turn in, with a weekly cap of 200 syringes per person. The Senate also passed both bills without discussion. The grant program would cost the state roughly $120,000 for the first two years for a new position to oversee the program, in addition to an annual allocation of $500 to establish the fund. The syringe service expansion is estimated to cost roughly $426,000 a year, which would go to the Department of Health and Human Services. Though both bills won the support of the Legislature, funding may still prove to be an obstacle as the budget committee is wrestling with how to address a significant deficit. Earlier this session, lawmakers on the health committee rejected a bill that would have severely limited the number of clean syringes that certified programs can hand out, backing the state's current, more flexible policy. In 2022, Maine adopted new rules that allow participants to bring in just one used syringe to receive 100 clean ones. The state health department also allows participants to receive up to 100 syringes, even if they don't bring any used ones in, at the discretion of the provider. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland sues Maine DHHS over General Assistance cuts for homeless shelters
May 6—The city of Portland has filed a lawsuit against the Maine Department of Health and Human Services hoping to overturn a new rule that will cut millions of dollars in emergency shelter funding for the city. The complaint was filed in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland last week, arguing that the rule was not changed through the proper process and should be considered void. The city also asks for a temporary injunction barring the rule from being implemented while a judge considers the lawsuit. No court dates have been scheduled yet. If the rule holds, Portland leaders have said it will be difficult for the city to continue operating the shelter without a sharp tax increase or pulling from an emergency fund. "We're not just going to hope for resolution in the Legislature, we're also going to seek an answer in the court. We're not going to be passive," Portland Mayor Mark Dion said in a phone interview Tuesday. Rule 26 went into effect on April 1 and formalizes how the department determines shelter costs, 70% of which are reimbursed through General Assistance. The city has said it costs $84 per guest, per day, to operate the shelter, but based on the new rule, the state said it should only cost $48 per guest per day. The state is now using a standard known as the "zero-bedroom rate," equal to that of operating a studio or efficiency apartment for each guest. That number is adjusted annually and is based on location-specific fair market rents established by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. View this document on Scribd The state has said that Rule 26 simply formalizes an existing policy, but the city has argued that the cost of running such a large emergency shelter is not aligned with the zero-bedroom rate set by HUD. A spokesperson for DHHS declined to answer questions about the filing because it is an active legal matter. The agency has not filed any responses in court. THREE COUNTS The city's complaint outlines three requests. First, it asks that the courts overturn the adoption of Rule 26 because it should have been brought before the Legislature as a substantive policy change, rather than an internal hearing. "If they adjusted schedules, that would be fair for the agency to decide. But this is more than that," Dion said. "It should have gone to the Legislature. This was more than just a housekeeping rule." Dion argues that Portland has been substantially impacted by the rule change, especially when it comes to its budget and ability to provide shelter services. The newly proposed city budget accounts for $12 million in state and federal funding cuts, including the General Assistance reimbursement changes resulting from Rule 26. A draft budget presented by City Manager Danielle West proposes closing that gap by pulling $8.8 million from the city's rainy day fund, while still raising taxes by 6.2%. Without the rainy day funds, city leaders said the tax rate could have increased by 15.1% The complaint also asks for a temporary injunction to prevent the rule from applying to Portland. And it seeks to overturn a violation issued to the city in the fall that says its reported operating costs for the city shelter were too high. Dion said the City Council unanimously decided to pursue legal action against the state after meeting with the city's lawyer, Michael Goldman, in executive session last month. He said the session was focused simply on fighting to overturn the violation, but that the council ultimately agreed the city has legal ground to fight the rule change in court. "This is a very serious decision, but the state's actions have placed us in a very precarious position as far as the budget is concerned," said Dion. He plans to continue to petition the Legislature for more GA funding even as the case unfolds in court. "I think most everyone has come to the conclusion that we are a service center city that, for all sorts of reasons, finds itself trying to discharge a state responsibility — so it's a fair expectation that we get adequate funding from the state to carry out that responsibility," he said. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers reject bill that would bring back strict limits on needle exchanges
A sharps disposal box sits beside Needlepoint Sancutary's set up at Camp Hope, an unhoused encampment in Bangor. The syringe service program hands out provisions and clean syringes along with kits containing fentanyl testing strips and the overdose reversal drug Naloxone. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/Maine Morning Star) The Maine Legislature rejected a bill this week that would bring back limits on syringe services, following the recommendation of state public health experts and medical professionals. LD 219, introduced by Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio (D-Sanford), would have limited the number of clean syringes that certified needle exchange programs can hand out, reverting to a one-for-one ratio that Maine required until 2022, when it adopted rules that allow participants to bring in just one used syringe to receive 100 clean ones. The bill sparked lengthy debate in both chambers, particularly in the light of an HIV outbreak in Penobscot County that has primarily impacted the unhoused community that uses injectable drugs. Several lawmakers highlighted the issue of syringe litter on roads, parks and on private property, which they blamed on the higher number of syringes people can access. But ultimately, the majority of legislators supported the Health and Human Services Committee's recommendation to reject the bill, citing best practices supported by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and other public health and harm reduction organizations. The Senate voted 22-21 against the bill Thursday following a 76-69 House vote earlier this week. Republican Sen. Marianne Moore, who represents Washington County and sits on the Health Committee, expressed concern about the outbreak spreading to other counties, including her district. Needle exchanges face municipal pushback despite state, public health backing 'Limiting access to sterile syringes now will only make it harder to prevent, protect and control spread of disease in a county already underresourced and overburned,' she said. 'We all want cleaner streets, safer communities and less syringe litter,' she said, but if we are serious about addressing syringe waste, she encouraged her peers to increase funding for disposal kiosks and biohazard containers. 'Let's stay the course of evidence-based policy,' Moore added. Other Republican senators disagreed. Sen. Matt Harrington of York County and Sen. Scott Cyrway of Kennebec County raised concerns about drug overdoses and 'decriminalizing drug culture.' 'This idea that these centers are somehow reducing harm to me, is ridiculous,' Harrington said, referring to certified Syringe Service Programs. 'This continuous nature of enabling this behavior… is just proven to be exacerbating this issue.' Earlier this week, several Republican representatives also criticized the bill, saying they supported the limits the bill aimed to reimpose. 'All Mainers and their pets are at risk of a dirty needle stick,' said Rep. Ann Fredericks of Sanford. Sanford became one of the few municipalities to bring back limits in an emergency municipal ordinance last year, which bill sponsor Mastraccio said during her testimony helped reduce syringe litter. But according to the Maine CDC's syringe service report from 2023, released last May, most users bring in roughly the same amount of syringes they receive. Syringe services handed out 1.16 syringes for each one they collected last year, which means that despite some concern about the state's 100 to 1 ratio, meaning the additional needles from these programs are not driving street litter. Syringe service programs also provide sharps disposal containers and help reduce discarded waste in communities, according to Dr. Kinna Thakarar, a physician at Maine Medical Center and an associate professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine. Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor) said a rigid one-toone model doesn't match the reality of substance use and doesn't work. 'We have seen it in rural cities and towns alike. Public health policy must be grounded in science and best practices and lived realities of our communities,' she said. 'This bill is out of step with all three.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AG Frey joins multi-state suit as Maine health agencies face over $91 million loss in federal funds
The entrance to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in Augusta. Feb. 25, 2025.( Photo: Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Maine is facing a barrage of healthcare cuts, possibly losing as much as $93 million in federal funding to a wide array of services, from vaccinations and disease tracking to mental and reproductive health. More than $91 million of these cuts is due to last week's termination of six federal grants, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Three million is in separate cuts to Title X, the country's only federally funded program that supports family planning services. Attorney General Aaron Frey announced that the state is joining a multi-state lawsuit, along with attorneys general from 23 states and the District of Columbia, against the Trump administration for 'abruptly and illegally terminating' funding. The legal challenge was filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for withholding nearly $11 billion in 'critical public health grants' to the states, according to a statement from Frey's office. Vaccine distribution, disease monitoring and response and rural health services, among other programs, are at risk if funding is not restored. According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the terminated grants directly impacted work by more than 70 vendors and at least 40 contracted personnel at Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 'The termination of these grants will compromise Maine's ability to respond to disease outbreaks, maintain vaccine availability, address health disparities, and support community-based health workforce efforts,' said Maine DHHS Commissioner Sara Gagné-Holmes. 'Additionally, these cuts threaten critical planned investments in mental health and substance use disorder services. Maine DHHS is continuing to evaluate the full impact of these cuts to these important public health and behavioral services.' Most of the funding cuts — about $88 million — affect the Maine CDC and will impact vaccination programs, making it harder to distribute vaccines and educate the public; reduce the state's ability to monitor outbreaks and run lab tests; cut health equity programs meant to help vulnerable communities and terminate community health services, according to DHHS. About $3 million will be cut from Maine's Office of Behavioral Health, impacting substance use prevention programs, and school-based mental health and interventions. 'These actions jeopardize critical public health response capabilities and services, and weaken our state's public health infrastructure,' said Dr. Puthiery Va, Director of the Maine CDC. Congress approved extra funding for health programs during COVID-19, including mental health and addiction services. But on March 24, without legal justification, the federal government suddenly cut off these funds, saying they were no longer needed since the pandemic is over. Frey and other attorneys general are arguing that these cuts are illegal. They say the funding was never meant to end just because the pandemic officially ended over a year ago, and some of the grants weren't permitted to be canceled this way. The lawsuit is asking the court to block the funding cuts and stop the government from enforcing or reinstating them, claiming the decision violates federal law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Public health experts oppose bills to restrict ability to discuss, mandate COVID-19 vaccines
A health care worker administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.(Photo courtesy of Executive Office of the Maryland Governor) Several physicians and experts testified against two proposals introduced before the Health and Human Services Committee on Monday that they said would undermine public health and spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. One proposal, LD 871, would prevent the state from requiring healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including emergency medical services personnel. Marygrace Cimino (R-Bridgeton) introduced the bill despite the fact that in 2024 the COVID-19 vaccine was removed from the list of immunizations the state requires healthcare workers to have, based on guidance from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, although the agency continues to recommend the vaccine. Given the current lack of a mandate, the legislation 'serves no obvious purpose,' said Dr. Sydney Sewall, a pediatrician in Waterville and representative of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 'The motivating force appears to be anti-vaccine sentiment,' he said. 'We find it unfortunate that vaccine policy in general and COVID vaccine in particular, has devolved into a partisan issue.' Northe Saunders, executive director for Maine Families for Vaccines, said the bill would tie the hands of future leaders and public health experts in the case of a possible new COVID variant or another surge. 'We cannot afford to ban the use of a tool that has saved millions of lives worldwide just because we're no longer in a crisis,' he said. Another bill presented to the committee, LD 436, sponsored by Rep. John Eder (R-Waterboro), would prevent any state agency from providing informational or educational materials about the COVID-19 vaccine for children under 18. That restriction would ban health care provider networks and offices, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the MaineCare program from sharing resources with families to help make decisions about vaccination for their children. During the public hearing, Eder's bill was similarly critiqued by public health experts for promoting anti-vaccination rhetoric, endangering public safety and undermining trust in evidence-based healthcare. 'This bill does not address a legitimate concern,' said Jessica Shiminski, program director of the immunization program within the Maine CDC. 'Instead, it increases vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, posing a significant threat to public health. The state's efforts to increase vaccination rates are crucial in protecting the health of children in Maine, and this bill undermines those efforts.' Eder said he introduced the bill based on questions about the efficacy of the latest COVID-19 vaccine and the diminishing seriousness of infections in recent years. He cited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that only 12.8% of children and 23.1% adults got the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. Combined with the fact that children are far less likely to fall seriously ill or face severe symptoms from COVID, Eden said the Maine CDC should stop promoting the vaccine for kids. 'American adults are abstaining, but children, babies as young as six months old, rely on informed decisions made by their parents based on information they get from us,' he said. 'For many parents like myself, it's foreboding to see the vaccine recommended atop the childhood vaccine schedule.' The COVID-19 vaccine decreases a child's risk of hospitalization by more than 50%, according to Sewall of the American Academy of Pediatrics. While most pediatricians recommend the shot, Sewall said that when given accurate information about the low risk of serious illness in children, most parents decline. The exception is children who are immunocompromised. 'While the public health burden from COVID has greatly decreased, it still circulates and causes disease in kids,' Sewall said. 'Parents and clinicians should have access to the most up to date, scientifically based information making decisions regarding child health. Politics should not play a role in vaccine policy.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
