Initiative: Provides funds as required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section 3610, to provide safety net crisis and intermediate services at nonstate mental health institutions.

General Fund 2003-04 2004-05

All Other $13,000,000 $18,000,000

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General Fund Total $13,000,000 $18,000,000

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill provides necessary funding to reimburse the State's 2 freestanding, nonprofit psychiatric hospitals for services provided to indigent patients when these expenses can not be reimbursed by the Medicaid or Medicaid Disproportionate Share programs. The bill also provides funds to meet shortfalls projected at Augusta Mental Health Institute and Bangor Mental Health Institute. Of the $18,000,000 sought for fiscal year 2003-04, $10,000,000 is projected to be needed for the 2 freestanding, nonprofit psychiatric hospitals and $8,000,000 is needed for AMHI and BMHI. The figures are based on preliminary estimates of the Department of Human Services.

The bill also requires on the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Behavioral and Developmental Services to continue to work with these hospitals to advocate for the elimination of the federal cap on disproportionate share funds that are available for institutes for mental disease, or for other federal reforms that would ensure adequate federal funding for the population served by these hospitals. Similar provisions for prior fiscal years were enacted in Public Law 2001, chapter 559, Part X, sections 9 and 10.

Finally, in the event that there are not sufficient carrying balances available for reimbursing the nonprofit psychiatric hospitals, the bill provides funding to these hospitals to deliver so-called "safety net services" to people with major mental illness who the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services determines can not otherwise be served by the local service networks. This funding and treatment obligation of the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services is set forth in statute.