Resolve, To Support Family-directed Housing Initiatives and Alternative Programming for Individuals with Disabilities in Underserved Areas

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to develop pilot projects. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall work with community partners to develop pilot projects, referred to in this resolve as "the pilot projects," to establish residences for up to 10 individuals in each facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities eligible for services under its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 20, 21 or 29 or other applicable sections for the population's needs. The pilot projects must be developed in rural areas of the State that are underserved in terms of residential services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and serve local residents. The department shall support private fund-raising by local communities. The department shall develop contracts with local entities to determine the individuals to be served, make referrals and either carry out day-to-day functions or manage a contract for those services. The pilot projects must assist the eligible individuals to build independent lives, including employment opportunities and community participation, in a residence in or near their home community in a place with modern facilities and communal spaces and served by skilled staff; and be it further

Sec. 2. Local funding. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall work with local entities to leverage private funding to contribute to the development of the pilot projects; and be it further

Sec. 3. Increased MaineCare rates. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall consider the need for increasing reimbursement rates for the pilot projects above the existing reimbursement rates for services provided under its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 20, 21 or 29 or other applicable sections for the population's needs in order to attract service providers in rural underserved areas. The department shall seek any authorizations necessary from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reimburse at increased rates; and be it further

Sec. 4. Reporting. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than January 1, 2020. The report must report progress on implementing the pilot projects and include the following measures: the number of facilities created, the number of individuals served in the pilot projects and evidence of improving services in a previously underserved area; expenditures on the pilot projects; pilot project cost comparisons with services received by similar individuals under the department's rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 20, 21 or 29 and other related sections in other areas of the State; project outcome measures including average hours per week of community-based employment, income from employment, average hours per week volunteering in the local community and hours per week learning new skills and assessed in service plans; and any recommendations regarding the applicability of the pilot projects for future service models for similar populations around the State. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters is authorized to report out a bill to the Legislature regarding the recommendations in the report.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to work with community partners to develop pilot projects for residential facilities that each serve up to 10 individuals with intellectual disabilities eligible for services under its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 20, 21 or 29 or other applicable sections for the population's needs. The department shall support private fund-raising by the local communities and develop contracts with local entities to determine admission standards, make referrals and either directly provide day-to-day services or contract for them. The department shall consider the need to increase reimbursement under MaineCare for applicable services to counter high costs in underserved rural areas. The department must report by January 1, 2020 on the progress of the pilot projects, number of facilities created, number of individuals served, expenditures, cost comparisons and outcome measures together with any recommendations regarding applicability of the pilot projects as a model for similar future projects around the State.