Resolve, to Expand the Choices of People Seeking Mental Health Therapy Under the MaineCare Program
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0058
Committee Amendment CA_A_H444 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "If· to H.P. 66, L.D. 58, "Resolve, to 
Expand the Choices of People Seeking Mental Health Therapy Under 
the MaineCare Program" 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title 
and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: 
. Sec. 1. Demonstration project. Resolved: That the Department of 
Human Services in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral 
and 
Developmental 
Services 
is 
authorized 
to 
undertake 
a 
demonstration project in one or more regions of the State to 
permit a 
limited number of licensed clinical social workers, 
licensed clinical professional counselors and licensed marriage 
and family therapists to obtain direct reimbursement from the 
Department of Human Services for the delivery of covered mental 
health services to MaineCare members. 
The demonstration project 
must be budget-neutral to the MaineCare program. 
Operation of 
the demonstration project is subject to the following conditions: 
I. 
Therapeutic relationship. 
The demonstration project may 
not cause significant disruption of the therapeutic relationship 
between MaineCare members 
and the mental health professionals 
providing treatment to them; and 
2. 
Credentials. 
A mental health professional permitted 
direct reimbursement under the demonstration project must meet 
the credential, professional, supervision and quality assurance 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.~ 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. /f.. to H. P. 66, L.D. 58 
requirements applicable to the profession and those requirements 
developed by the Department of Human Services in cooperation with 
the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services; and be 
it further 
Sec. 2. Reports. Resolved: That the Department of Behavioral 
and Developmental Services and the Department of Human Services 
shall report by January 15, 
2004 and October 30, 
2004 to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services regarding 
the following: the number of regions in which the demonstration 
project was established, whether the project expanded access to 
mental health services, whether the project was cost-effective, 
whether savings were achieved and, if so, recommendations for use 
of those savings and the effect of the project on the mental 
health infrastructure in the State.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
replaces the resolve. 
It authorizes the 
establishment of a 
demonstration project to permit a 
limited 
number of licensed clinical social workers, 
licensed clinical 
professional 
counselors 
and 
licensed 
marriage 
and 
family 
therapists to directly bill the Department of Human Services for 
mental 
health treatment 
provided 
to 
MaineCare 
members. 
The 
amendment requires the demonstration project to be budget-neutral 
and prohibits it from interfering in the relationships between 
MaineCare 
members 
and 
their 
mental 
health 
providers. 
The 
amendment adds reporting dates of January 15, 2004 and October 
30, 2004. 
F1~CAL \OTE REQt:IRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
i. 
Revised: 05/16/03 ;:t;!JI'ac:.. 
12lst Maine Legislature 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD58 
Resolve, to Expand the Choices of People Seeking Mental Health 
Therapy Under the MaineCare Program 
LR0716(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LR0716(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1