CHAPTER 423
S.P. 615 - L.D. 1814
An Act to Improve the Delivery of Mental Health Services in Maine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 34-B MRSA §3608, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 691, §7, is amended to read:
The department shall establish and oversee networks to participate with the area councils, as defined in section 3607, subsection 2, in the delivery of mental health services to children and adults under the authority of the department. A network consists of persons and organizations providing mental health services under contract or grant from the department funded by the General Fund and Medicaid in the corresponding area specified in section 3607, subsection 3. The local service networks must be established and operated in accordance with standards that are consistent with standards adopted by accredited health care organizations and other standards adopted by the department to establish and operate networks. Oversight must include, but is not limited to, establishing and overseeing protocols, quality assurance, writing and monitoring contracts for service, establishing outcome measures and ensuring that each network provides an integrated system of care. The department may adopt rules to carry out this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A. This section may not be construed to supersede the authority of the Department of Human Services as the single state Medicaid agency under the Social Security Act, Title XII or to affect the professional standards and practices of nonnetwork providers.
Sec. 2. 34-B MRSA §3608, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Data collection. The department shall collect data to assess the capacity of the local service networks, including, but not limited to, analyses of utilization of mental health services and the unmet needs of persons receiving publicly funded mental health services.
Sec. 3. 34-B MRSA §3610 is enacted to read:
The department is responsible for providing a safety net of adult mental health services for people with major mental illness who the department or its designee determines can not otherwise be served by the local service networks. The department may develop contracts to deliver safety net services if the department determines contracts to be appropriate and cost-effective. The state-operated safety net must include, but is not limited to:
A. Backup emergency hospital beds for people requiring medical stabilization, assessment or treatment;
B. Intermediate and long-term treatment for people who need long-term structured care;
C. Forensic services;
D. Intensive case management; and
E. Other services determined by the commissioner to be needed.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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