‘Resolve, To Develop a Pilot Program for Medication-assisted Recovery in a Rural Community at least 30 Miles from Bangor’

‘Sec. 1. Stakeholder group to establish a pilot program for medication-assisted recovery in rural location. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall convene a stakeholder group to establish a pilot program in a rural community at least 30 miles from Bangor for medication-assisted recovery using buprenorphine or similar oral or injectable forms of medication to serve individuals working to recover from addiction to opioid substances. The stakeholder group must include representatives of the office of substance abuse and mental health services in the Department of Health and Human Services, a representative of a statewide organization representing physicians, a physician knowledgeable in the treatment of addiction to opioid substances, a counselor with experience in treating addiction to opioid substances, a representative of a federally qualified health center licensed in this State, a representative of a clinic where buprenorphine is prescribed, an individual knowledgeable in the finances of a clinic offering medication-assisted recovery programs, a representative of the City of Bangor and a person either recently or currently enrolled in a program dedicated to the treatment of addiction to opioid substances; and be it further

Sec. 2. Stakeholder group duties. Resolved: That the stakeholder group convened pursuant to section 1 shall, in its deliberations:

1. Determine what programs and policies would provide an incentive to physicians who are currently registered to provide treatment for addiction to opioid substances, or overcome the concerns of those physicians who would consider being registered to provide treatment for addiction to opioid substances, to enroll patients needing medication-assisted recovery;

2. Determine whether the levels of reimbursement from MaineCare, Medicare and private insurance are a barrier to physicians treating patients with addictions to opioid substances with medication-assisted recovery;

3. Determine whether state regulations have a negative impact on the willingness of physicians to treat patients with addictions to opioid substances;

4. Develop a plan for a pilot program at least 30 miles from Bangor;

5. Explore the use of physicians' offices, federally qualified health centers licensed in this State or other facilities focused on the delivery of health care as potential satellite medication-assisted recovery service sites;

6. Explore the use of mobile medication-assisted recovery service facilities;

7. Explore the use of telemedicine for patient counseling and support of physician services;

8. In order to provide interested physicians with mentoring, consultation, quality control and support, explore funding for training developed pursuant to the federal Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 for interested physicians and for services provided by and consultation with established medication-assisted recovery or buprenorphine service experts;

9. Explore the establishment and coordination of counseling sessions for patients in new medication-assisted recovery programs;

10. Explore the use of nurse practitioners, physician assistants and registered nurses working under a physician trained pursuant to the federal Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 to provide appropriate services;

11. Explore projects with local and state agencies to develop and require job, vocational and career opportunities for those receiving medication-assisted recovery treatment in their local communities when medically cleared to do so and to maintain employment of those already employed;

12. Propose ways in which the pilot program can access federal funds, grant funds from the office of substance abuse and mental health services in the Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy Maine Partnerships funds, resources from local health care agencies and the eventual projected cost savings associated with reducing transportation for patients in this pilot program; and

13. Consider criteria for participation in medication-assisted recovery, including, but not limited to, criteria related to current methadone patients at a methadone clinic, new patients needing medication-assisted recovery, the ability of patients to pay with health insurance or self-pay and motivation to recover from addiction and be held accountable by contract and peer recovery supporters; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide a report based on the findings of the stakeholder group convened pursuant to section 1 to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than January 1, 2016. The joint standing committee may report out legislation associated with the report to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature.’