May 5, 2025

Since 1995, the Maine CDC Breast and Cervical Health Program has helped clients access timely breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. The program recently expanded eligibility to include qualifying women ages 21 and older -- lowering the previous age threshold of 35.

This change reduces the risk of undiagnosed cancers and the associated consequences of pain, illness, and premature death. It also addresses two critical public health considerations:

• Read more about Expanded Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Services for Maine Women 21+

• Read more about Safe Haven Baby Boxes, 10-148 C.M.R. Ch. 22

This rulemaking establishes guidelines for the safe installation and use of safe haven baby boxes at qualifying safe haven provider locations before they are put into service. Public Law 2021, c. 466 amended Maine’s Safe Haven law to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules to ensure the safe design, installation, and use of each safe haven baby box before it may be put into service by a hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department.

• Read more about USDA Distributes Oral Rabies Vaccine for Wildlife in Northern Maine

Bait distribution aims to reduce the spread of the rabies virus

AUGUSTA-- In cooperation with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Wildlife Services will distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits next week. USDA Wildlife Services will distribute approximately 450,000 ORV baits in Aroostook County from May 12 through May 17.

May 5, 2025

Mental health affects every one of us – our families, our communities, and our future. This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we reaffirm the importance of mental wellness and our shared commitment to supporting one another.

• Read more about Mental Health Awareness Month: Prioritizing Well-Being for All Mainers

• Read more about Impact of Expiring Health Insurance Tax Credits on Maine

With potential Federal cuts to Medicaid on the horizon, renewing enhanced premium tax credits to ensure affordable insurance through the marketplace takes on greater significance

AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) today announced its support for renewing the enhanced premium tax credits for consumers of the health insurance marketplace. 

May 5, 2025

Federal enhanced premium tax credits have been instrumental in making health insurance more affordable for thousands of Mainers through CoverME.gov, the state's health insurance marketplace, and are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress takes action to extend them.

• Read more about Affordable Health Coverage at Risk: Mainers Speak Out on Expiring Tax Credits

• Read more about HOPE Rule #104P - Dental Services Update

10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 330; Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE) Program Rules

HOPE Rule #104P – Section 4: Dental Services Update

• Read more about Reminder: Providers Delivering Services Via Telehealth

To ensure that members are receiving high-quality care, the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) requests that providers review the Telehealth Policy within the MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM). Please review your current practices and ensure compliance with the MBM.

• Read more about Updated Secondary Billing Instructions

We updated Secondary Billing Instructions to add detail about entering primary insurance payment information. Enter primary insurance payment information at the line level. If there are lines that do not have payment due to bundled services, enter the payment information at the header level. 

When billing MaineCare secondary claims, you must attach an EOB to all claims, regardless if the submission type is Direct Data Entry (DDE), paper, or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

• Read more about Youth Camps Rule, 10-144 CMR Ch. 208

Maine CDC is adopting amendments to its Rules Relating to Youth Camps, Day Camps and Primitive Trip Camping which it has renamed “Youth Camps Rule”. The Department’s amendments to the rule include rule format changes and a change to the rule title for consistency with other Maine CDC rules. The Department also added, updated and clarified definitions within the rule. Other changes within the rule include incorporating the application, licensing and enforcement provisions and requirements from its Health Inspection Program Administration Rule (Ch. 201).