122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 318 LR 0520(02)
An Act To Protect the MaineCare Program
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
   
             
Fiscal Note
Undetermined current biennium net impact - General Fund
Undetermined current biennium net impact - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The elimination of non-categorical adult MaineCare eligibility (i.e., the Childless Adult Waiver) would result in a significant reduction in MaineCare spending.  Based on the Department's 2006-2007 Part I Budget baseline estimates, the reduced General Fund spending would be $39.5 million in 2005-06 and $43.1 million in 2006-07.   This reduction in spending would be partially offset by the bill's increase in MaineCare reimbursement rates for hospitals.  However, the impact of the hospital payment increase would be mitigated by hospital payment increases already authorized in PL 2003, c. 673, Part HH and PL 2005, Part ZZ and limited by federal upper payment limit (UPL) restrictions.  The cumulative net impact on the General Fund cannot be determined at this time.
The elimination of MaineCare eligibility expansions funded under the Dirigo Health Fund would decrease the Fund's MaineCare spending but increase the number of persons eligible for Dirigo premium discounts while decreasing federal Medicaid matching funds available to the Fund.  The cumulative net impact on the Dirigo Health Fund cannot be determined at this time.