Resolve, To Ensure the Health and Wellness of Older Residents of the State

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to seek waiver. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements for an asset test for determining the eligibility of any household under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program when the household includes an individual who is 60 years of age or older.

Sec. 2. Home-delivered meals pilot project. Resolved: That, no later than January 1, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit an application to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to request a demonstration waiver under the federal Social Security Act, Section 1115 to develop a 2-year pilot project pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22-A, section 203, subsection 5 to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are 60 years of age or older and who are homebound or at risk for readmission to a health care facility. The program under the waiver is limited to individuals being released from a health care facility at high risk of readmission and have received a doctor's recommendation that medically tailored food and nutrition interventions are necessary for the patient's health. Patients being offered medically tailored food and nutrition interventions may receive one meal per day for up to 14 days. The Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a report no later than July 1, 2022 on the results of the pilot project, including, but not limited to, the number of individuals served by the pilot project; the number of home-delivered meals provided; health care facility readmission rates of those served; and recommendations for continuing the pilot project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot project.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147

Initiative: Provides funds for reimbursement for 2 weeks of medically tailored food and nutrition interventions for certain individuals at high risk of readmission to a health care facility.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$20,365	$27,153
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$20,365	$27,153

FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$36,744	$48,992
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL	$36,744	$48,992

Office of Aging and Disability Services Central Office 0140

Initiative: Provides funding to eliminate the waiting list for home-delivered meals to homebound individuals who are over 60 years of age who cannot prepare meals and do not have others available to prepare meals for them.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21
All Other	$500,000	$500,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$500,000	$500,000

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2019-20	2020-21
GENERAL FUND	$520,365	$527,153
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND	$36,744	$48,992
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$557,109	$576,145

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to request the United States Department of Agriculture to waive the asset test for determining the eligibility for the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program of any household in which there is an individual who is 60 years of age or older. It also directs the department to develop a pilot project to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are 60 years of age or older and who are homebound or at risk for readmission to a health care facility. It requires the department to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot project. The bill also provides funding to eliminate the waiting list for home-delivered meals to homebound individuals who are over 60 years of age who cannot prepare meals and do not have others available to prepare meals for them.