Resolve, To Improve Medical Eligibility Assessments for Long-term Care Consumers
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0545
Committee Amendment CA_A_S209 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to S.P. 171, L.D. 545, "Resolve, To 
Improve 
Medical 
Eligibility 
Assessments 
for 
Long-term 
Care 
Consumers" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, To Improve Procedures for Assessing the Mental Health 
Services Reeds of Older Individuals' 
Further amend the resolve by striking out everything after 
the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. Recommend procedure to assess mental health needs of older 
persons; data collection. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall recommend a procedure for the timely 
assessment of 
an older individual's 
need for 
mental 
health 
services. 
The 
recommendations 
must 
include 
an 
efficient, 
cost-effective data collection process to identify consumer needs 
for mental health services for older persons, regardless of the 
setting. 
Recommendations developed under this section must be 
undertaken in consultation with the 
work 
group 
convened 
in 
section 2 and must be included in the report required under 
section 3; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Work group. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health 
and Human Services and the Joint Advisory Committee on Select 
Services for Older Persons shall, in consultation with other 
consumers, providers and advocates, form a work group and shall: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ~, to S.P. 171, L.D. 545 
1. 
Review and make 
recommendations on 
a 
mental health 
assessment screen as part of the needs assessment of applicants 
for long-term care services; 
2. 
In consultation with the State Board of Nursing and the 
Department of Education, 
review training curricula for direct 
care 
workers 
in all 
long-term 
care 
settings 
and 
recommend 
revisions to the curricula necessary to include a stronger focus 
on the identification of and management of behavioral disorders 
in the long-term care population. 
In conducting that review, the 
Department of Health and Human Services and the work group shall 
consider 
the 
creation 
of 
a 
specialized 
behavioral 
health 
certification for certified nursing assistants: and 
3. 
Review 
and 
make 
recommendations 
concerning 
other 
information regarding the needs of persons over 60 years of age, 
including, but not limited to, a review of the following: 
A. 
Information regarding minimum data set data on the use 
of psychotropics in all long-term care facilities; 
B. 
The number of hospitalizations due to psychiatric or 
behavioral episodes, including the referral setting; 
C. 
The number of adult protective service intakes related 
to mental health and behavioral issues and their outcomes: 
D. 
The 
number 
and 
type 
of 
consultations 
performed by 
Department 
of 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services 
behavioral 
consultants, including trends, characteristics and outcomes: 
E. 
Mental health services provided through MaineCare by 
diagnosis for persons over 60 years of age; 
F. 
The number of consent decree clients with dementia and 
the 
number 
of 
persons 
with 
mental 
retardation 
and 
developmental disabilities over 60 years of age; and 
G. 
Information 
regarding 
spending for geriatric mental 
health services; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and 
Human 
Services 
and 
the 
Joint 
Advisory 
Committee 
on 
Select 
Services for Older Persons shall jointly submit a report on the 
issues identified in sections 1 and 2, including recommendations 
and suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services by January 14, 2006.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~ to S.P. 171, L.D. 545 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the resolve and changes the title of 
the resolve. 
The amendment directs the Department of Health and 
Human Services to recommend a procedure for the timely assessment 
of 
an 
older 
individual's 
need 
for 
mental 
health 
services, 
including recommendations on an efficient, cost-effective data 
collection process to identify consumer needs for mental health 
services for older persons, 
regardless of the setting. 
The 
amendment 
also 
requires 
the Department 
of Health 
and 
Human 
Services and the Joint Advisory Committee on Select Services for 
Older Persons, in consultation with other consumers, providers 
and advocates, to undertake a review and make recommendations on 
a mental health assessment screen as part of the needs assessment 
of applicants for 
long-term care services 
and several other 
issues pertaining to the status of mental health services to 
persons over 60 years of age. 
The amendment also directs the 
department to consult with the Joint Advisory Committee on Select 
Services for Older Persons, the State Board of Nursing and the 
Department of Education to review training curricula for direct 
care workers in all long-term care settings and to recommend 
revisions to the curricula necessary to include a stronger focus 
on the identification of and management of behavioral disorders 
in the long-term care population. 
The department and the Joint Advisory Committee 
Services for Older Persons are required to jointly 
report, including recommendations on these issues and 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health 
Services by January 14, 2006. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
on Select 
submit 
a 
suggested 
and Human 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/06/05 ~ae 
LD545 
LR 1963(02) 
Resolve, To Improve Medical Eligibility Assessments for Long-term Care Consumers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" A 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Board of Nursing and the Department of 
Education in implementing this bill can be absorbed utilizing existing resources. 
LR1963(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1