BREAKING: Senate overrides veto of Chenette bill to expand healthcare options

AUGUSTA--The Maine Senate voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. LePage’s veto of legislation from Sen. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, to extend insurance coverage requirements to include naturopathic care for appropriate services. The vote was was 32-2.

​LD 1030, “An Act to Require Nondiscrimination Policies in Providing Health Care Services” as amended would prevent insurance companies from discriminating against care received from a naturopathic doctor practicing within the scope of their license.
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“After working on this issue for the better part of a year, I am glad the Legislature could finally come together and enact this legislation in such a bipartisan way over the objection of the Governor,” said Sen. Chenette. “Now Mainers will have more options when it comes to their health.”

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The bill received a unanimous report out of the Legislature’s Committee on Insurance and Financial Affairs as well as initial votes in the House and the Senate earlier this year.

“Loopholes in Maine law allow for insurance companies to opt-out of covering health care providers offering alternative or naturopathic treatment, even if that treatment is licensed, certified or registered by the state of Maine,” said Sen. Chenette. “Now Mainers will have more options when it comes to their help.”
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LD 1030 faces an additional override vote in the House of Representatives, where it enjoyed strong bipartisan support on enactment.