Mar 3, 2021

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) Public Health Nurses (PHNs) are trained to deliver a diverse array of services in Maine communities, from providing direct care and community-based health education, to infectious disease prevention and investigation, and contributing to the development of public health policy. This skillset has proven especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Read more about Maine CDC Public Health Nurses Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic in Maine Communities

• Read more about File a Vaccine Eligibility Site Complaint

Mar 3, 2021

Under Maine’s age-based approach to vaccination eligibility, scores of older Mainers most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 are receiving vaccinations. As of March 17, 77 percent of Maine residents age 70 and older and 49 percent of residents age 60 to 69 have received their first dose of vaccine.

• Read more about DHHS Partners with Area Agencies on Aging and Community Groups to Vaccinate Older Mainers

Mar 3, 2021

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that it will no longer defend the prior administration’s implementation of the 2019 public charge rule, which penalized eligible Mainers for using benefits they are entitled to by law.

• Read more about Benefits Available to Eligible Mainers After Biden Administration Drops Defense of Public Charge Rule

Feb 2, 2021

The Maine DHHS Office of Child and Family Services today announced spending priorities for the additional $30.5 million in federal funds the State of Maine has received to support children, families, and child care providers with affordable child care due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Read more about DHHS Announces Plan for $30.5M in Federal Funds to Support Maine Children, Families, and Child Care Providers

Feb 2, 2021

The Maine DHHS Office of Child and Family Services announced today that due to increased availability of BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, distribution of the rapid test kits will be expanded to the 1,726 licensed child care providers that have the capacity to serve 41,792 children. 

• Read more about Maine DHHS Offers BinaxNOW Rapid Tests to Licensed Child Care Providers

Feb 2, 2021

Maine has five MaineCare-funded Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver programs that provide flexible supports to older adults and individuals with disabilities to assist them in their daily lives and prevent admissions to nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and other institutional settings. As in other states, these programs operate under special permission from the federal agency that oversees Medicaid, which is why they are called “waiver” programs.

• Read more about Enrollment in Maine’s Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs Increased 7% During Pandemic

Feb 2, 2021

Starting today, some health coverage options are available again under a new Special Enrollment Period for the COVID-19 public health emergency. Maine people who qualify can enroll in or change Marketplace health insurance plans from February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021.

• Read more about Second Chance to get Affordable Health Insurance for 2021

• Read more about Who should take Peer Support 101?

• Read more about Intentional Peer Support

Peer Support

Intentional Peer Support is a relationship focused, problem solving, and strengths based, trauma-informed approach. With administrative support from the Muskie School, OBH has oversight of training and certification in Intentional Peer Support for individuals identifying as having lived experience with mental health challenges employed to offer support to others with mental health difficulties.