1.  Eligibility.  This subsection governs eligibility for therapeutic counseling services under the program. Eligibility is limited to individuals who are former students of the Maine School for the Deaf or the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and who attended or graduated before July 1, 2001.  

2.  Facilitation of counseling services.  The department shall facilitate therapeutic counseling services through contracts with mental health providers that specialize in services for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened. New contracts entered into with mental health providers that do not have a contract with the State must enroll as MaineCare providers. The department, as payor of last resort, shall provide General Fund contracts for therapeutic counseling services for individuals who do not receive MaineCare benefits and for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. The department shall assist mental health providers in navigating reimbursement under the MaineCare program. The department shall monitor contracts to ensure compliance related to program eligibility, MaineCare policies and department licensure requirements. Therapeutic counseling services funded under the program may not exceed $170,000 per year.