On March 18, Gov. Janet Mills signed Rep. Holly Stover’s bill to exempt the need for prior authorization for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder under MaineCare into law.

The new law 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. The new law extends these exemptions to the MaineCare program.

“Those fighting opioid use disorder deserve immediate access to needed medications just as much as anyone, regardless of income or socioeconomic status,” said Stover, D-Boothbay. “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. I thank Gov. Mills for signing this law and helping people in need get the treatment they require.”

The law will go into effect on June 16, 2020.

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