AUGUSTA - Legislation sponsored by Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, received unanimous support from the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. The bill, LD 1135, seeks to address the need for increased access to treatment for substance use disorder through a 25% increase in reimbursement rates. 

In 2020, Maine experienced the single largest increase in overdose deaths, with a 32% increase from the previous year. This bill aims to expand access to treatment services by increasing reimbursement rates in Section 65 for substance use disorder outpatient services. This bill also requests that all substance use disorder services funded by the state conform to trauma-informed principles of care as developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“For over four years, I have worked in an addiction outreach program with the Boothbay Harbor Police Department. In my experience, there is limited access to detoxification, residential or outpatient treatment,” said Stover. “The availability of beds is crucial to addressing the treatment needs for individuals, and I am thrilled to have the committee's support on this incredibly important legislation.”

The measure faces further votes by the full Legislature in the coming weeks.

Stover represents Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, South Bristol (part), Southport and Westport Island and is serving her second term in the Maine House. She serves on the Health and Human Services Committee.