MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment

Oct 04, 2022

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services

RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 113, Non-Emergency Transportation Waiver

CONCISE SUMMARY: The Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) is filing an application with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to renew and amend Maine's Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) waiver. CMS requires periodic renewal of all waivers, including this waiver which authorizes Maine to use a brokerage system to provide MaineCare members with transportation to non-emergency covered services. The proposed renewal would have a duration of 5 years. The primary purpose of this submission is to renew the waiver to continue to be able to provide non-emergency transportation to MaineCare members. OMS is also proposing the following amendments which represent a change from the prior waiver:

• In accordance with federal requirements, using a single capitation rate per region determined by the State rather than allowing bidders to select from a range of actuarially sound rates, and making related changes to RFP requirements. This results in bidders for the brokerages competing on quality and experience alone, since the cost is fixed
• Revising performance measures and reporting periods
• Indicating that a new RFP is being issued and contractors may change
• Updating the list of non-English languages
• Making other minor and technical amendments

For a full list of all changes, please view the draft waiver amendment.  The waiver amendment has been posted on the OMS website at: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/about-us/policies-rules/policy-waivers. In addition, a copy of the waiver application may be viewed at any regional Office for Family Independence. A list of the offices and locations can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/about/contact/offices.

To allow for public input on the waiver amendment, OMS is accepting comments for 30 days. There is a link included on the website to submit comments to Lisa Weaver at the OMS Policy Division.

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by midnight on Friday, November 4, 2022.

AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Lisa Weaver, Planning and Research Associate, Policy Division

AGENCY NAME: Office of MaineCare Services

ADDRESS: 109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0011

EMAIL: Lisa.Weaver@maine.gov

TELEPHONE: 207-624-4050  FAX: (207) 287-1864 TTY: 711.