Resolve, To Promote Recruitment and Retention of Direct Care Workers in Long-term Care in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1090
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: EDMONDS, LA VERRIERE-BOUCHER, BRENNAN, GAGNON, MAYO, EARLE, KANE, KOFFMAN, RICHARDSON

Legislative Document 
No. 1090 
S.P.362 
In Senate, March 4, 2003 
Resolve, To Promote Recruitment and Retention of Direct Care 
Workers in Long-term Care in Maine 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative LA VERRIERE-BOUCHER of Biddeford and 
Senators: BRENNAN of Cumberland, GAGNON of Kennebec, MAYO of Sagadahoc, 
Representatives: EARLE of Damariscotta, KANE of Saco, KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor, 
RICHARDSON of Brunswick. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Sec. 1. Retention demonstration grants. Resolved: 
That 
the 
Department 
of 
Human 
Services 
shall 
administer 
a 
program 
of 
retention demonstration grants from funds appropriated for that 
purpose. 
The 
'~rants must be used to promote peer mentor ing, 
training. 
career 
pathways 
and 
workplace 
culture 
changes 
for 
direct care workers; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Long~term care direct care workers; study. Resolved: 
That 
the Department of Human Services shall conduct a study to examine: 
1. 
Wage, benefit and reimbursement structures for direct 
care workers in: 
A. 
Nursing facilities; 
B. 
Residential care facilities; and 
C. 
Home health care; and 
2. 
Options to extend Medicaid or other health insurance 
coverage to direct care workers. 
The 
department 
shall 
invite 
participation 
of 
and 
consul tation wi th interested parties involved in long-term care 
or 
home 
health 
care 
during 
the 
course 
of 
the 
study. 
The 
department 
shall 
submit 
its 
report. 
including 
any 
necessary 
implementing legislation. 
to 
the Joint 
Standing 
Committee 
on 
Health and Human Services on or before December L 
2003. 
The 
commi ttee may report out. legislation based on the report to r.l1P 
Sec. 3. 
Appropriations and allocations. 
Resolved: 
following appropriations and allocations are made. 
HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Medical Care -
Payments to 
That 
the 
Providers (0147) 
Initiative: 
for direct 
Appropr iatE!s funds to increase wages and benef i t~, 
care, residential care and home care workers in the 
MaineCare program. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
Federal Expendi1:ures Fund 
Page l-LRll09(1) 
2003-04 
$2,300,400 
$2,300.400 
2003-04 
2004-05 
$2,416,272 
$2,416,272 
2004-05 
All Other 
$4,477,443 
F~deral Expenditures Fund Total 
$4,477,443 
$4,692,501 
Nursing Facilities (0148) 
Initiative: 
Appropriates funds to increase wages and benefits 
for direct care nursing facility workers in the MaineCare program. 
General Fund 
2003-04 
2004-05 
All Other 
$2,750,000 
$2,886,000 
General Fund Total 
$2,750,000 
$2,886,000 
Federal Expenditures Fund 
2003-04 
2004-05 
All Other 
$5,352,534 
$5,604,733 
Federal Expenditures Fund Total 
$5,352,534 
$5,604,733 
Long-term Care -
Human Services (0420) 
Initiative: 
Appropriates funds to increase wages and benefits 
for direc+:' care, residential care and home care workers in the 
state long-term care program. 
General Fund 
All Other 
General fund Total 
Long-term Care -
Human Services (0420) 
2003-04 
$399,600 
$399,600 
Ini tiati ve: 
Appropr iates 
funds 
for 
retention 
grants to promote peer mentor ing, training, career 
workplace culture changes for direct care workers. 
General Fund 
All Other 
Gene~al fund Total 
2003-04 
$500,000 
$500,000 
HUMAN SERVICES. DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPAR"IMEPT TOTALS 
2003-04 
GENERAL nWD 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAl. -
ALL FUNDS 
$5,950,000 
9,829.911 
$15,119,911 
2004-05 
$419,728 
$419,728 
demonstration 
pathways and 
2004-05 
$500,000 
$500,000 
2004-05 
$6,222.000 
10.297.234 
$16.519,234 
SUMMARY 
This 
resolve provides 
funds 
to 
increase 
compensation 
to 
direct 
care 
workers 
and 
creates 
demonstration 
grants 
for 
retention 
of 
direct 
care 
workers 
in 
nursing 
facilities, 
residential care facilities and home health care. 
The resolve 
also directs the Department of Human Services to study wages, 
benefits and reimbursement for these workers and repol-t back t() 
the Second Regular Session of the l2lst Legislature.