Jan 1, 2024

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced today that it is bringing closure to a long-standing financing issue dating back to 2018 in Maine’s Medicaid program by eliminating a CMS-contested tax on health care providers (MaineCare). This reflects Governor Mills’ commitment to responsible State budgeting and sustainable long-term financing for MaineCare, a program that provides health and long-term service and supports to over 400,000 Maine residents.

• Read more about DHHS Addresses Long-Standing MaineCare Financing Issue

• Read more about 1115 Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Waiver Mid-Point Assessment Stakeholder Listening Session

In 2021, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a Section 1115(a) Demonstration titled, Maine Substance Use Disorder Care Initiative. The goal of the Demonstration is to improve access to, and quality of treatment to MaineCare members with SUD. This included allowing MaineCare to pay for short-term stays in residential SUD treatment programs that are larger than 16 beds.

• Read more about Attention Providers: Please Respond to Enrollment Cases That Need More Information (NMI)

MaineCare continues to experience a high volume of provider enrollment cases, and we need your help to make progress. Gainwell regularly identifies missing information that delays their ability to complete cases and requires your immediate attention.    

• Read more about Maine DHHS Announces Structural Improvements to Office of Child and Family Services

Names Bobbi Johnson as Permanent Director, Launches Child Welfare Management Review, and Realigns Behavioral Health Services

AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today structural changes to improve services for children and families in Maine.

Jan 1, 2024

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today that it will move Children’s Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) from the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) to the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) to ensure a whole-family approach to the continuum of mental health and substance use prevention, treatment, crisis response, and recovery. Additionally, this transition of services improves the balance of staff across the Department’s Offices, allowing increased attention and support from leadership to child welfare, child care and CBHS.

• Read more about Maine DHHS Reorganizes Behavioral Health to Better Serve Children and Families

• Read more about Recoupment of Claim Payments for Non-Covered Services Processed Under the COVID-19 Uninsured Benefit After the End of the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE)

As explained in the March 22, 2022 e-message,  MaineCare’s COVID-19 Uninsured Benefit was available for uninsured individuals through the end of the federal PHE, which ended May 11, 2023. MaineCare will not pay for services for this population for dates of service after May 11, 2023.  

• Read more about MaineCare Notice of Agency Rule-making Adoption, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 43, Hospice Services, and Chapter III, Section 43, Allowances for Hospice Services (repeal)

The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage.  This website keeps the proposed rules

• Read more about 2023 Health Care Reviews

Below are the Certificate of Need healthcare reviews conducted during the year of 2023. You can also view reviews from previous years.

Hospital/Acute Care Reviews

Encompass Healthcare

New Inpatient Hospital

• Read more about Attention Providers: New Ways to Connect Your Patients to Mental Health Care

The MaineCare HIV Program and the Delivery System Reform Units will host a 30-minute tour of Treatment Connection, an online platform that helps you locate and contact mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) providers. This session is specifically for providers who seek mental health and SUD services for their patients. The live event will start at 11:30 AM, Thursday, January 25, 2024. Register Here.

• Read more about MaineCare Notice of Agency Rule-making Adoption, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 43, Hospice Services, and Chapter III, Section 43, Allowances for Hospice Services (repeal)

Notice of Agency Rule-making Adoption

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, MaineCare Services

CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 43, Hospice Services, and Chapter III, Section 43, Allowances for Hospice Services (repeal)

ADOPTED RULE NUMBER:

CONCISE SUMMARY: