Primary Care Plus and Health Home Services Implementation Updates

Feb 28, 2022

Primary Care Plus (PCPlus) Implementation Date Update  

PCPlus is a new MaineCare initiative to support primary care practices in delivering high-quality primary care. The PCPlus rule is currently proposed, and the comment period for the rule has ended. MaineCare now anticipates adopting the PCPlus rule with a future effective date of July 1, 2022.     

After the PCPlus rule is adopted and before the rule is implemented, MaineCare is planning to re-open the PCPlus application for practices that have not yet applied. MaineCare will also contact all current applicants to resolve any pending application issues and confirm the final decision to participate in PCPlus. Practices that have already applied will not need to reapply. MaineCare will notify practices that have not yet applied on how to apply once the application period is open.     

Please note: Practices must submit all documents required through the application, except for the Community Health Worker Environmental Scan and the Joint Population Health Strategy, prior to the July 1, 2022 program implementation. We will communicate a more specific due date for all other application documents  with the notification about the application re-opening.    

For reference, the proposed rule for PCPlus is available on the Proposed and Recently Adopted Rules webpage. As a reminder, until the PCPlus rule is adopted, the only questions that MaineCare can address are technical questions about the application. These questions may be sent to the Delivery System Reform Unit.  

Section 91 Health Home Services Implementation Date Update

The Department has proposed rulemaking for MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 91, Health Home Services, and the comment period for the rule has ended. MaineCare anticipates adopting the rule with a future effective date in June 2022 to align the Section 91 changes with the implementation of Primary Care Plus on July 1, 2022. We will announce the rule adoption in accordance with rulemaking requirements. 

For reference, the proposed rule for PCPlus is available on the Proposed and Recently Adopted Rules webpage. As a reminder, until the Section 91 rule is adopted, MaineCare cannot address policy-related questions.