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An Act To Establish a Pilot Project for Medicaid Reimbursement for Acupuncture Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22-A MRSA §203, sub-§5  is enacted to read:
 
5.  Pilot projects.     The department shall develop pilot projects and demonstration projects required by law, and shall apply for any authorization necessary to undertake such projects.
Sec. 2. Acupuncture pilot project. By January 1, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of substance abuse and mental health services shall apply for authorization from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop a pilot project in accordance with this section to treat alcohol abuse disorders, substance abuse disorders and co-occurring disorders using the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol.
1. Pilot project standards. The treatment under the pilot project must be performed by project staff who have been trained to perform the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol, who practice acupuncture within the scope of their license in this State and whose licenses to practice are in good standing. The Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of substance abuse and mental health services shall consult with a statewide association of licensed acupuncturists to establish treatment standards that are consistent with the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol.
2. Patient limits and financing. The pilot project must be limited to a finite number of patients determined by the Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of substance abuse and mental health services and may last no longer than 2 years. Acupuncture treatment under the project must be reimbursable as allowed under the United States Social Security Act, Title XIX and it must be developed and implemented in a manner that ensures that it will be cost-neutral or will result in savings to the MaineCare program.
3. Report. The Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of substance abuse and mental health services shall submit a report on the results of the pilot project, including recommendations for continuing the project, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot project.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of substance abuse and mental health services to apply by January 1, 2018 for authorization from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop a pilot project to treat alcohol abuse disorders, substance abuse disorders and co-occurring disorders using the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol. The bill requires the department to consult with a statewide association representing licensed acupuncturists in the establishment of treatment standards. The bill requires that the treatment be provided by staff who are licensed to practice acupuncture in the State and whose licenses are in good standing. The project may last no longer than 2 years and must be reimbursable as allowed under the United States Social Security Act and be cost-neutral or result in savings to the MaineCare program. The department and the office must report their findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the end of the project.