AUGUSTA, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) attended the Maine Public Health Association’s 2018 Annual Conference at the Augusta Civic Center. The yearly conference brings together hundreds of public health professionals from across Maine to discuss developments in science and policy relating to public health. This year’s event focused on addiction and the state of public health in Maine.

“Today’s conference featured some of Maine’s brightest minds coming together to share information about how to fight the serious public health challenges facing our state – what a fantastic sight to see,” said Senator King. “We can’t end the opioid epidemic without contributions from people of all walks of life – first responders and advocates, policy-makers and treatment providers, friends and family of those struggling with substance use disorders. We need all hands on deck, and today’s conference is a major part of that comprehensive effort to end the epidemic and help the people and communities who are struggling across Maine.”  

Senator King has made combating the opioid crisis one of his top priorities in Washington. He has held roundtables throughout Maine – from Portland to Bangor to Milo to Paris – and earlier this month, he met with Maine people in recovery and treatment providers at the Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN) in Brewer to discuss the importance of pre-existing condition protections for those seeking to recover from substance use disorders (SUDs). Also in October, Senator King voted for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, sweeping opioid legislation which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and multiple King-backed provisions that will help Maine families and communities affected by the opioid crisis. The legislation was the result of months of bipartisan hearings and discussions on the opioid crisis.  

In September, Senator King spoke on the Senate Floor in support of the Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act, which would permanently authorize nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders. Earlier that month, he attended and gave remarks at the Rally 4 Recovery at Deering Oaks Park in Portland. The event, celebrated those who are recovering from substance use disorders, as well as their friends, families, and support systems. In July, Senator King hosted a panel at the Camden Opera House featuring medical professionals, employers and advocates to discuss ways to lessen the stigma surrounding Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) in order to help more people decide to pursue treatment, and return to the workforce. 

Senator King has been active in working to improve public health in Maine, including by strongly opposing administration moves and legislative proposals that seek to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Last week, he voted to overturn the administration’s expansion of junk plans, calling the plans that are not required to cover those with pre-existing conditions, “part of the problem, not part of the solution.” Last month, he spoke at the Protect Our Care rally in Portland and held a conversation in Damariscotta on the importance of healthcare protections to Maine people who work in high risk industries. Also in September, Senator King met with seniors in Kennebunk to discuss the high cost of healthcare services in prescription drugs. In August, Senator King met with Maine families on the impact of insurance protections for children living with pre-existing conditions, and in June he spoke with a panel of Maine people with pre-existing conditions, healthcare advocates and medical professionals in South Portland, following Department of Justice’s decision not to defend the guarantee of coverage for pre-existing conditions.  

In July, Senator King cosponsored a resolution that would authorize the Senate Legal Counsel to intervene in the legal case challenging the constitutionality of the ACA’s provisions protecting people with pre-existing conditions. Also in July, he published a post on Medium highlighting the administration’s efforts to weaken the ACA. At the end of June, Senator King spoke twice Senate floor about the impact of ACA sabotage on Maine people and to honor the 53rd anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. Senator King has also pursued agreements that would improve the Affordable Care Act to protect coverage for the millions who rely on it for affordable health care, and has developed several proposals to make common sense fixes to the legislation. During the health care debate last summer, Senator King outlined a roadmap of health care priorities to stabilize the health care marketplace and lower the underlying costs of treatment and health coverage for people in Maine and across the country.