An Act To Expand Eligibility for Home Accessibility Adaptation Benefits under the MaineCare Program

Sec. 1. 34-B MRSA §5438,  as amended by PL 2011, c. 542, Pt. A, §103, is further amended to read:

§ 5438. Services for adults with diagnoses of intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities

To the extent possible using available resources, the department shall provide adults with diagnoses of intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities choices from among an array of supports and services, including but not limited to: employment supports, personal supports , home accessibility adaptations, day programs and residential services. The department shall pursue appropriate resources for the supports and services needed by adults covered under this chapter. The department shall also evaluate the effectiveness of the contracts initiated to provide services pursuant to this section between 6 months and one year following the start of those contracts and shall develop protocols for such evaluations.

Sec. 2. Department of Health and Human Services to amend rules. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its rules in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Sections 21 and 29 to allow for a person who is providing shared living housing support to a person who is a MaineCare member eligible and receiving services under those rules to qualify for the same home accessibility adaptations to the residence, including the same limits, that are available to the member if that member is making home accessibility adaptations to the member's or member's family's private residence. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

This bill extends the current home accessibility adaptations available to MaineCare members receiving services under rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Sections 21 and 29 to persons providing shared living housing to a member receiving these services. The bill also requires that the Department of Health and Human Services evaluate the effectiveness of contracts for services for adults with diagnoses of intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities.