An Act To Ensure the Availability of Community Integration Services

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  community integration services are important for the overall health and well-being of recipients of those services; and

Whereas,  low rates of reimbursement for these services create barriers to providers willing to provide these services; and

Whereas,  instability of willing providers reduces access to services; and

Whereas,  this legislation requires that an amendment to rules to address this issue be made by July 1, 2019; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to increase community integration services rates. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 17, Allowances for Community Support Services to increase the reimbursement rate for community integration services, effective July 1, 2019, to $24.25 per quarter-hour.

Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147

Initiative: Provides funding to increase reimbursement rates in the Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 17 for community integration services.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$2,167,025	$2,167,025
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$2,167,025	$2,167,025

FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$3,932,975	$3,932,975
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL	$3,932,975	$3,932,975

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill provides funding to increase reimbursement rates in the Department of Health and Human Services rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 17 for community integration services to $24.25 per quarter-hour.