130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 652		LR 1763(01)
	An Act To Include an Emergency Reimbursement Rate Review Process in Rate Setting by the Department of Health and Human Services
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Sachs of Freeport
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a process for emergency reimbursement rate review to be used at times of extraordinary circumstances. Currently, 3 sections of policy have an emergency rate review process. This expands that process to all sections of policy. As it is unknown exactly what the parameters for requesting an emergency review will be, who will be eligible, how many times this language would be used and when rate changes might occur, no appropriation is included in this bill. Estimates for an emergency rate review for a single section of policy (out of 49 total sections) could range from $100,000 to $10,000,000, depending on the specific section of policy involved and the increase identified by the review. In the absence of an appropriation, any new costs attributable to an emergency rate review would have an impact on other programs in the DHHS, unless additional appropriations can be made in time to accommodate future emergencies. The 3 sections of policy which already have language regarding extraordinary circumstance allowances rate reviews are in the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III for the Section 50-Intermediate Care Facilities, Section 67-Nursing Facilities and Section 97-Private Non-Medical Institutions (Appendices C-Case Mix Medical and Remedial and F-Non Case Mix Medical and Remedial).