An Act To Increase the Viability of Assisted Living Facilities by Increasing the Rate of Reimbursement

Sec. 1. PL 2017, c. 460, Pt. B, §2, sub-§3  is amended to read:

3. Rate study. Cost-of-living increases as described in subsection 2 must continue on an annual basis until the Department of Health and Human Services has completed a rate study conducted by a 3rd party, including participation of providers, for adult family care services, adult day services or homemaker services and the rates in the rate study have been implemented. The rates implemented pursuant to the rate study must be increased by an inflation adjustment cost-of-living percentage change in reimbursement in accordance with the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index medical care index.

summary

Under current law, the MaineCare payment rates attributable to wages and salaries for personal care and related services for adult family care services, adult day services and homemaker services must be increased by a cost-of-living adjustment until the Department of Health and Human Services has completed a rate study conducted by a 3rd party, including participation of providers, for adult family care services, adult day services or homemaker services and the rates in the rate study have been implemented.

This bill requires that the rates determined by the department pursuant to the rate study also must be increased by a cost-of-living adjustment.