An Act To Strengthen Maine's Public Health Infrastructure

CONCEPT DRAFT SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to enact measures designed to strengthen the State's public health infrastructure by:

1. Identifying community-level geographic regions where essential public health services, including competent and qualified comprehensive community health coalitions, can be funded equitably;

2. Ensuring that basic and essential public health services be delivered in each public health district and tribal health district;

3. Identifying emerging nonclinical public health workers, including community health workers, community paramedics, recovery coaches and resiliency coaches, who can strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of public health service delivery;

4. Facilitating, when possible, the integration and collaboration of public and private public health professionals with public safety professionals and emergency preparedness professionals; and

5. Enabling the operation of public health professionals, public safety professionals and emergency preparedness professionals as a cohesive and coordinated public health team to improve the visibility and understanding of public health among Maine children and adults.