Resolve, To Increase Access to Brain Injury Waiver Services

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to increase MaineCare rates. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rules in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 18, Allowances for Home and Community Based Services for Adults with Brain Injury, to increase rates for Home Support (Residential Habilitation) Level I to no less than $8.63 per quarter hour. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and be it further

Sec. 2. Care coordination services units. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rules in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 18, Home and Community-Based Services for Adults with Brain Injury, to allow for 400 units of care coordination in each year rather than limiting it to 200 units after one year. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and be it further

Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services to explore telehealth opportunities. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall explore opportunities to provide additional reimbursable services using telehealth to members currently receiving services under the brain injury waiver administered by the department's office of aging and disability services, including care coordination services, that could be provided by health care providers, including licensed medical personnel and nonlicensed personnel.

summary

This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the rates for services provided to MaineCare members receiving Home Support (Residential Habilitation) Level I under the brain injury waiver, rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 18, to no less than $8.63 per quarter hour. It also allows up to 400 units of care coordination each year rather than only in the first year of receiving services under the waiver. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to explore opportunities to provide additional telehealth services, including care coordination services, provided by both licensed medical personnel and nonlicensed personnel.