Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-I, sub-§1, ¶B-3 is enacted to read:

B-3.__In order to ensure access to appropriate long-term care services for persons with dementia, the department shall include in its medical eligibility assessment criteria a definition of "problem behavior" to mean any one of the following 5 types of behavior:__wandering with no rational purpose, being verbally abusive, being physically abusive, displaying socially inappropriate or disruptive behavior or resisting care.__The department also shall include a provision that a threshold score for problem behavior on the eligibility assessment form is equal to a score of 2 if at least one of these 5 types of behavior is displayed at least 3 times per week and a score of 3 if at least one of these 5 types of behavior is displayed at least once a day.

SUMMARY

In order to ensure access to appropriate long-term care services for persons with dementia, this bill requires the Department of Human Services to include in its medical eligibility assessment criteria a certain definition of the term "problem behavior."