An Act To Protect and Improve the Health of Maine Citizens and the Economy of Maine

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  over 74,000 people in this State are at risk of losing access to affordable health care due to actions being considered by Congress; and

Whereas,  cancer, heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death in this State and among the most common and costly, yet preventable, of all health problems; and

Whereas,  drug overdose deaths during the first 9 months of 2016 in this State surpassed the total for all of 2015, with at least 286 deaths, nearly one death every day, reported by the end of September;

Whereas,  between 25,000 and 30,000 people seeking long-term drug treatment in this State last year were unable to get treatment, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;

Whereas,  federal health care funds are available to pay for cancer prevention and treatment, cardiovascular treatment and many other life-saving preventative health care services; and

Whereas,  federal health care funds are available to pay for prevention, treatment and recovery services for uninsured individuals and people with low income; and

Whereas,  immediate enactment of this legislation is necessary to ensure that people in this State are protected from changes that would affect their access to preventative health care and treatment services and will continue to have access to affordable health care; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

PART A

Sec. A-1. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶F,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. KK, §2, is further amended to read:

Sec. A-2. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶G,  as enacted by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. KK, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. A-3. 22 MRSA §3174-G, sub-§1, ¶H  is enacted to read:

PART B

Sec. B-1. Waivers, state plan amendments or other approvals. Within 90 days of the effective date of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall submit any necessary waivers and state plan amendments or seek other necessary approvals to implement Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H. The commissioner shall act expeditiously to achieve implementation of Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H. Any waiver, state plan amendment or other method of approval submitted pursuant to this section must include provisions to achieve the following:

1. Positive incentives for persons who participate in wellness initiatives, health home initiatives and other initiatives aimed at reducing and managing substance use disorders, mental health disorders or chronic diseases, including, but not limited to, diabetes and heart disease, as well as programs aimed at reducing risk factors for cancer or chronic diseases, including, but not limited to, obesity and smoking;

2. Prevention initiatives to address chronic health conditions, including adequately informing newly eligible persons under Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H of primary care providers participating in the MaineCare program and accepting patients under the MaineCare program and providing incentives for adopting healthy behaviors through reduced cost sharing for accessing appropriate, clinically recommended services, including preventative visits, annual wellness exams and preventative health care services. The incentives must use relevant, evidence-based research and resources and waive or reduce premiums or copayments for participation in health improvement programs or activities;

3. A mechanism by which the Department of Health and Human Services may pay directly to health care providers and private health insurance carriers any direct payment of premium assistance and cost sharing that is due to the health care providers or health insurance carriers that is beyond the maximum amount allowed by federal law and regulation;

4. A plan for achieving savings by:

Sec. B-2. Reduction of federal medical assistance percentage. Upon notification to the Department of Health and Human Services or other public declaration by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage that applies with respect to amounts expended for medical assistance for persons newly eligible for Medicaid described in 42 United States Code, Section 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) is reduced below the amounts specified in 42 United States Code, Section 1396d(y)(1), the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall notify the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs. The commissioner shall propose a plan to maintain coverage of those persons described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H to the greatest extent feasible. The committees of jurisdiction may propose any necessary legislation to address any decrease in funding or other necessary changes.

Sec. B-3. Interim reporting. Between the effective date of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H and the dates of approval of any federal or state approvals necessary for implementation of Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H, the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide monthly reports to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs on the progress of implementation of that paragraph, any issues that might delay implementation or act as barriers to implementation and any possible solutions to those issues and barriers.

Sec. B-4. Reporting on implementation status. No later than one year after the effective date of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs on the status of implementation of Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H, including information on enrollment, costs, revenues generated from the Federal Government and other revenues, anticipated state savings and other issues pertinent to implementation.

Sec. B-5. Reporting of revenues. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Maine Revenue Services shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs no later than 60 days following the end of the first 12 months of enrollment under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H regarding any new revenues, including any increase in federal medical assistance payments resulting from coverage provided under Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H. Prior to the end of fiscal year 2018-19, the State Controller shall transfer any amounts identified under this section to the MaineCare Stabilization Fund established under Title 22, section 3174-KK.

Sec. B-6. Evaluation by legislative office. Within 90 days after the end of the first 12 months of enrollment under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H, the Office of Fiscal and Program Review shall independently review reports required pursuant to sections 5 and 7 of this Part and report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs on its determination of the savings and new revenues, if any, resulting from implementation of Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H. This report must also include information about the amount of federal funds received by the State as a result of coverage authorized under that paragraph.

Sec. B-7. Report. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Corrections and any state agency that recognizes savings as a result of implementation of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H shall report within 60 days prior to the end of the first 12 months of enrollment under Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters on the amount of General Fund savings and other fund savings resulting from coverage provided under that paragraph, including, but not limited to, savings to substance abuse and mental health programs; medical services provided to persons in the care and custody of or upon release by the Department of Corrections or a county jail or regional jail; reimbursement to cities and towns for general assistance provided under Title 22, chapter 1161; services provided for individuals between 21 and 64 years of age who are currently eligible for the MaineCare program under medically needy, spend-down criteria; services provided under the Maine Medicaid Section 1115 Health Care Reform Demonstration for Individuals with HIV/AIDS; services provided for parents participating in family reunification activities under Title 22, chapter 1071; services provided to individuals awaiting a MaineCare program disability determination for whom the applications are subsequently granted; services provided to individuals who previously would have pursued a disability determination to qualify for coverage; services provided under the State's breast and cervical cancer treatment program; and other programs in which savings are achieved. The report must include the amount of savings realized during that fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year by service area or program and the amount of savings projected to be achieved during the remainder of that fiscal year and during the next fiscal year by service area or program.

Sec. B-8. Accepting grant funding to assist with waiver submission. The Department of Health and Human Services may apply for and accept private foundation grants to be used to cover the department's costs of preparing and submitting any waivers and state plan amendments to the Federal Government and for administering, negotiating and implementing the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1, paragraph H, including writing the state implementation plan, if required as a result of the provisions of this Act.

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

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes the State to accept federal funds to provide health insurance coverage to adults with incomes equal to or below 133% plus 5% of the nonfarm income official federal poverty line for the applicable family size. Persons with incomes equal to or below 100% of the nonfarm income official poverty line receive coverage through the MaineCare program. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services is authorized to seek approval to provide that persons with income levels over 100% of the federal poverty line and up to 133% of the federal poverty line may receive coverage from a private health insurance plan or other mechanisms. In the event that the commissioner uses this authority, any funds made available from unexpended state matching funds must be used to help ensure that those persons with income levels between 100% and 133% of the federal poverty line receive affordable and comprehensive health coverage.

The bill provides for measures to be taken in the event that federal funding, as established under federal law, is reduced, so that the Legislature may act promptly to address the consequences of this action. The bill also authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with health insurance plans to provide coverage in order to maximize savings and to ensure access to and quality of services.

The bill sets forth time standards for the start of the expansion of health care coverage, for submission of requests to obtain necessary federal approvals and for ongoing reporting to the Legislature during the start-up phase of this expansion. Further reporting is required on the status of any savings generated to state-funded programs as a result of this expansion. It requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Maine Revenue Services to report no later than 60 days following the end of the first 12 months of enrollment under the expansion on revenues generated as a result of expanded coverage. It requires that savings and revenues be verified by the Office of Fiscal and Program Review within 90 days after the end of the first 12 months of enrollment under the expansion. It transfers any savings to the MaineCare Stabilization Fund prior to the next fiscal year. It requires the Office of Fiscal and Program Review to report its findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and to the joint standing committee having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs.

The bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept private foundation grants to be used to cover the cost of preparing and submitting any waivers and state plan amendments to the Federal Government required as a result of expanding health care coverage.