Mar 3, 2024

Since the evening of October 25, 2023, Maine has continued to assess and respond to the needs of those impacted directly and indirectly by the shootings in Lewiston. Conversations convened by Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) with experts across state government and among federal partners made clear that behavioral health needs, in the wake of an incident of mass violence, persist for months and even years.

• Read more about Public Input Shapes Maine DHHS Response to Lewiston Tragedy

• Read more about Attention Pharmacy Providers: Service Disruption Office Hours with MaineCare Pharmacy Benefit to Address

The Office of MaineCare Services is inviting you to join an Office Hours call with the MaineCare Pharmacy Benefit team on Friday, March 08, 2024, from 3:30PM – 4:15PM related to the current service disruption.  

• Read more about Provider Survey- Attitudes Towards Contingency Management (CM) for Treatment of Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

The Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the Substance Use Research & Evaluation (SURE) unit at the Catherine E. Cutler Institute, University of Southern Maine to evaluate the system of care for SUD. We have identified that more information is needed to understand attitudes of providers towards CM within the SUD continuum of care. To assist the Department, the SURE unit developed an electronic survey of provider beliefs about CM as a treatment option for SUD.

• Read more about SNAP Rule #232P - 2024 Federal Poverty Level Updates

10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 301 – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Rules; Section 999-3

SNAP Rule # 232P - 2024 Federal Poverty Level Updates

• Read more about MaineCare Rule #304P - CHIP Coverage Group Change and Medicare Savings Program Change

10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 332; MaineCare Eligibility Manual - Parts 2, 3 and 8

MaineCare Rule #304P - CHIP Coverage Group Change and Medicare Savings Program Change

The purpose of the proposed rule would remove the asset test for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) based on a legislative change to 22 M.R.S. § 3174-LLL made by P.L. 2023, ch. 412.

• Read more about HOPE Rule #103P - Mileage Reimbursement Update

The proposed rule change would update Section 4(B)(3) - Transportation to be consistent with the rate afforded to those covered under the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA) contract. The proposed rule change would refer readers to the MSEA rate round at https://www.maine.gov/osc/travel/mileage-other-info.

• Read more about Attention Providers: Submit Documentation Electronically to Avoid Delays

As communicated on February 23, 2024, Change Healthcare is experiencing a network interruption related to a cyber security issue. This is a national issue affecting health care systems and Medicaid programs in many states, including Maine.  

• Read more about Update*: MaineCare Cost of Living/ “Part AAAA” Adjustments

MaineCare increased reimbursement rates for certain services through a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as directed by 22 MRSA Section 3173-J and 22 MRSA Section 7402, as enacted by Maine P.L. 2021, ch. 398, Part AAAA. The COLA is effective as of January 1, 2024, and is equal to an increase of 2.54% above the currently established rate(s).

• Read more about Provider Enrollment National Provider Identifier (NPI) Entry Enhancement, CR 122156

NPIs, i.e. Pay To, Rendering, and Non-Billing, Ordering, Prescribing, and Referring (NOPRs) are now checked against the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) directory to see if there is a match. If there is not a match, the NPI will not be allowed entry. Providers should review the information entered to ensure accuracy. If the system still will not accept the NPI, providers should wait at least five business days and try again.

• Read more about Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Phase 2 Trainings

The EVV requirements for Home Health providers delivering services under Section 40 were implemented on January 1, 2023.

We continue to offer weekly EVV provider and aggregator trainings. All trainings are online via Microsoft Teams.

NOTE: The Absorb training system has been updated to allow providers to register for trainings more than once.

EVV Training Schedule