• Read more about Hospital Billing Guidance for Donor Breast Milk 

On January 1, 2023, MaineCare added coverage for donor breast milk under Section 90, Physician Services and Section 45, Hospital Services, in accordance with Maine P.L. 2021, ch. 708 (L.D. 85), An Act Concerning MaineCare Coverage for Donor Breast Milk.     

• Read more about Attention Providers of Section 67 Nursing Facilities (NF) and Section 97, Residential Care Facilities (RCFs, PNMI Appendix C): Provider Rate Methodology Workgroup Presented Materials  

As previously noticed, MaineCare and our vendor Guidehouse Inc. are hosting several work groups with interested stakeholders to obtain important feedback as part of the rate determination process for Section 67, Nursing Facilities, and Section 97, Residential Care Facilities.  

• Read more about Sections 13, 17, 28, 65, and 92, Targeted Case Management and Behavioral Health Services – Rate Studies Comment Summary with Department Response

In the Spring of 2022, the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) initiated rate determinations for MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM) Sections 13, 17, 28, 65, and 92. Burns and Associates, a Division of Health Management Associates, conducted these rate studies. Providers submitted cost surveys in April and May of 2022. Burns used information obtained through the surveys, as well as stakeholder feedback, to inform the development of draft payment methods and rates. In September of 2022, after P.L. 2021 Ch.

• 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.   

• Read more about Maine CDC confirms death from Powassan virus disease

The tickborne infection remains rare, death is the first identified case in Maine this year

AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has confirmed a fatal case of Powassan virus disease in a Sagadahoc County resident. The adult developed neurologic symptoms and died while in the hospital after becoming infected, likely in Maine. This is the first case of the tickborne illness identified in the state this year.

• Read more about Updated Billing Instructions: UB-04, CMS 1500, & Dental 

We have updated our Billing Instructions to reflect the information below. 

• Read more about MaineCare Updates: Preparing for the End of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) 

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a PHE and relaxed certain requirements to ensure Medicaid members could continue to access healthcare services. The federal government has declared that the PHE will end on May 11, 2023.   

Starting May 12, 2023, some billing flexibilities and how MaineCare members access health care services will revert to how they were administered prior to the declaration of the PHE.   

• Read more about Maine Child Who Tested Positive for Measles Was Not Infectious

U.S. CDC identifies non-contagious strain of the virus, no secondary infections reported

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) was informed today by the U.S. CDC that a child who tested positive for measles earlier this month did not have an infectious strain of the virus. No additional cases of potential measles infections have been identified.