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An Act To Stimulate the Economy by Expanding Opportunities for Personal Assistance Workers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-LL  is enacted to read:
§ 3174-LL. Reimbursement for personal assistance services in MaineCare
The department shall reimburse providers of personal assistance services and personal assistance workers through standardized administrative and pay rates across all MaineCare programs beginning October 1, 2009.
 
1.  Definition.   For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "personal assistance services" means assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.
 
2.  Standardized administrative rate.   The standardized administrative rate must apply to all providers of personal assistance services.
 
3.  Standardized wage rate.   The standardized wage rate must apply to all personal assistance workers. The wage rate must be at least $12 per hour.
 
4.  Rulemaking.   The department shall adopt rules to implement this section, including specifying what constitutes activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §7310  is enacted to read:
§ 7310. Reimbursement for personal assistance services
The department shall reimburse providers of personal assistance services and personal assistance workers through standardized administrative and pay rates across all programs of in-home and community support services and in institutional settings beginning October 1, 2009.
 
1.  Definition.   For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "personal assistance services" means assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.
 
2.  Standardized administrative rate.   The standardized administrative rate must apply to all providers of personal assistance services.
 
3.  Standardized wage rate.   The standardized wage rate must apply to all personal assistance workers. The wage rate must be at least $12 per hour.
 
4.  Rulemaking.   The department shall adopt rules to implement this section, including specifying what constitutes activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the reimbursement by the Department of Health and Human Services for personal assistance services through standardized rates, beginning October 1, 2009, that apply to all providers and workers in programs, institutional settings, in-home services and community support services.