An Act To Move Maine Toward Affordable Health Care for Everyone

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3173-J  is enacted to read:

§ 3173-J.  MaineCare purchase option

Sec. 2. Waiver report. No later than January 1, 2020, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall submit to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and insurance matters a progress report on the request for the federal waiver pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3173-J and the results from actuarial and economic analyses that are necessary for a waiver proposal as well as any recommendations for legislation necessary to implement the MaineCare purchase option under Title 22, section 3173-J.

summary

This bill requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to submit a waiver under Section 1332 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish a MaineCare purchase option so that residents of Maine who are not otherwise eligible for the MaineCare program may participate in the program. The waiver must include authority for individuals who qualify for advance tax credits and cost-sharing credits to use them to purchase coverage through the MaineCare program. Individuals participating in the MaineCare purchase option may access the same services as other MaineCare members. The commissioner is required to implement mechanisms to ensure the long-term sustainability of the MaineCare purchase option. Rates are set by the Department of Health and Human Services and determined actuarially, and the open enrollment period is the same as the period for individuals purchasing insurance on the federal exchange. The department is required to submit a progress report on the request for the waiver as well as annual reports to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and insurance matters.