MaineCare Cost of Living Adjustments

May 24, 2023

MaineCare is increasing reimbursement rates for certain services in the policy sections listed below, through a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as directed by Maine PL 2021, Ch. 639. The COLA will be effective July 1, 2023 and is equal to an increase of 8.24% above the currently established rate(s). 8.24% is the same COLA that certain services received on January 1, 2023. This COLA increase is proportional to the percentage increase in the Maine minimum wage as determined by the Maine Department of Labor.  

P.L. Ch. 639 requires that, for all services with base rates determined through a rate study, the Department will provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment effective on a consistent date for services that have not received a rate adjustment within the 12 months prior to the effective date of the COLA.  

Services with an adjustment to their rate amount effective within the 12-month period previous to July 1, 2023, will not receive this COLA.   

These COLAs affect rates for eligible services under the following Sections of the MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM): 

 

COLA Rate Adjustments: MaineCare Benefits Manual Section/Title
Section 23	Developmental and Behavioral Evaluation Clinic Services
Section 25	Dental Services
Section 30	Family Planning Services (select codes)
Section 40	Home Health Services
Section 89	MaineMOM
Section 91	Health Home Services – Community Care Teams
Section 93	Opioid Health Home Services
Section 97	Private Non-Medical Institutions, Appendices B and D
Section 102	Rehabilitative Services

 

The Department will post the updated fee schedules for the sections of policy above on the Health PAS Online Portal as they are completed.  

Please contact Amanda Lee, Rate Setting Coordinator, with questions.