Jun 6, 2023

Today, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced it is extending the current Child Care Provider Transition Grants to help child care providers continue to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and improve access to quality child care in Maine.

The grants, originally set to end in May 2023, will continue to September 2023. Nearly 1,300 Maine child care providers will continue to receive $25 per licensed capacity or “slot” through the grant program.

• Read more about DHHS Extends Child Care Transition Grants

• Read more about Training for Licensed Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Providers

Acentra Health, formerly known as Kepro, in collaboration with the Office of Behavioral Health will be hosting two provider training sessions to review the Treatment Episode Data Sets (TEDS) submission requirements in the Atrezzo portal. The TEDS data submission is a requirement of all licensed SUD providers in Maine for the State to receive federal funding support for SUD treatment services and programs.  

• Read more about 10-144 C.M.R. Ch. 330, Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE) Program Rules, Ch. 3, Rule #102P

This rule change proposes to increase the income limit from 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 225% of the FPL consistent with 22 M.R.S. Section 3790-A(2)(E) (2017), amended by PL 2023 Ch.

• Read more about MaineCare Notice of Agency Rule-making Proposal, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Ch. III, Section 67, Principles of Reimbursement for Nursing Facilities

The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage.  This website keeps the proposed rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes.  The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website. 

• Read more about MaineCare Notice of Agency Rule-making Proposal, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter Ch. III, Section 67, Principles of Reimbursement for Nursing Facilities

The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage.  This website keeps the proposed rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes.  The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website. 

• Read more about Rate Determination Initiation Notice for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC): MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM) Section to Be Determined 

This bulletin provides notice that the Department has initiated a Rate Determination Process* for CCBHCs and is in the final stages of procuring a vendor. There will be opportunities throughout this Rate Determination process for stakeholders to provide feedback and comment.     

• Read more about Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Trainings and Forums

The federal deadline to implement the EVV requirements for Home Health providers delivering services under Section 40 and Hospice providers delivering services under Section 43 happened January 1, 2023.

This is the last weekly provider training notice. All trainings and forums are online via Microsoft Teams.

NOTE:  The Absorb training system has been updated to allow providers to register for trainings and/or forums more than once.

Training Topics

• Read more about Attention Section 45 Hospitals, Distinct Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Units: Rate Determination Update

Last Fall, MaineCare initiated a rate determination for Section 45, Distinct Psychiatric and SUD units.

• Read more about Attention Providers of Section 107, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) – Presented Materials and Comment Period 

On June 15, 2023, MaineCare held an online public meeting to present draft rate models along with rationale for the recommended rate models for Section 107, PRTFs.

• Read more about Service Locator Tool – Invitation to Behavioral Health Providers

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is excited to announce the creation of a Service Locator Tool hosted on Bamboo Health’s TreatmentConnection.com. The Tool will improve access to treatment for substance use and mental health issues. The goal is to publicly launch this tool in summer 2023.