AUGUSTA — Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, earned a perfect score from the Maine Women’s Lobby for votes during the second regular session of the 132nd Maine Legislature.
“I am proud to receive a perfect score from the Maine Women’s Lobby,” said Sen. Bailey. “Throughout my legislative career, I have consistently voted to support women’s rights. The struggle for women to achieve full equality continues, and I am honored to play my part in it.”
Sen. Bailey has been an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and health throughout her career in public service.
As the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee, she helped her colleagues work on LD 2189, “An Act to Require Prior Notification of Closures of Labor and Delivery Units and Changes in Maternity or Newborn Care Services by Hospitals as Recommended by the Commission to Evaluate the Scope of Regulatory Review and Oversight over Health Care Transactions That Impact the Delivery of Health Care Services in the State.” The new emergency law requires hospitals to provide 120-day notice for changes to, or termination of, maternity or newborn care services.
In light of the MaineHealth vote to close the labor and delivery unit at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, Sen. Bailey recently convened an interim meeting of the Committee to discuss the challenges and factors that led to this decision. As a result of that meeting, the Committee asked MaineHealth to reconsider or pause their decision to close the unit. Sen. Bailey and her colleagues also suggested that MaineHealth conduct an independent assessment.
The Committee will meet again on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to continue discussing possible policy recommendations to prevent closures of labor and delivery units in Maine hospitals and to preserve access to maternal healthcare services throughout the state. Once available, more details can be found here.
The full report card can be found here.
Sen. Donna Bailey is finishing her third term in the Maine Senate. She serves as the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. She also serves as a member of the Housing and Economic Development Committee. Sen. Bailey represents Senate District 31, which includes Buxton, Old Orchard Beach and Saco.
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