State Rep. Holly Stover’s bill to exempt the need for prior authorization for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder under MaineCare received unanimous support from the Health and Human Services Committee Feb. 25.

The bill mirrors legislation from the previous legislative session which reduced the prior authorization process for private health insurance carriers. As part of those reforms, medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder was exempted from prior authorization requirements under private insurance. Stover’s bill, LD 1934, extends these exemptions to the MaineCare program.

“Medications needed to treat opioid addiction should not be subjected to onerous prior authorizations that cause delays in treatment and do nothing to protect patients or improve outcomes,” said Stover. “Those fighting opioid use disorder deserve immediate access to needed medications just as much as anyone, regardless of income or socioeconomic status.”

The bill received bipartisan support from the committee and now faces a vote in the full Legislature.

Stover is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, part of South Bristol, Southport and Westport Island.