PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1 Department of Health and Human Services to increase MaineCare rates. Resolved: That, no later than January 1, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 65 to increase reimbursement rates for counseling services provided by independent licensed clinical social workers as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 7001-A to no less than 70% of the Medicare rate for the closest equivalent service as long as the rate is no lower than the rate that exists on May 1, 2019. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2 Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
 
Initiative: Provides appropriations for an increase to rates in rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 65, Behavioral Health Services to increase reimbursement rates for counseling services provided by independent licensed clinical social workers.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
All Other	$284,870	$569,740	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$284,870	$569,740	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment specifies that the services provided by independent licensed clinical social workers are provided under Section 65 of rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III. Rather than increasing rates to the lowest reimbursement rate for the same service paid by an insurance carrier licensed in Maine, the amendment increases rates to 70% of the Medicare rate for the closest equivalent service, since there is no exact equivalent rate under Medicare. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)