Resolve, To Improve Medical Eligibility Assessments for Long-term Care Consumers
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0545
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: ANDREWS, RICHARDSON, ROSEN, BOWLES, CAMPBELL, GROSE, LEWIN, PINGREE, WALCOTT, WEBSTER

Legislative Document 
No. 545 
S.P. 171 
In Senate, February 3, 2005 
Resolve, To Improve Medical Eligibility Assessments for Long-term 
Care Consumers 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator ANDREWS of York. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary ofthe Senate 
• 
Cosponsored by Speaker RICHARDSON of Brunswick and 
Senator: ROSEN of Hancock, Representatives: BOWLES of Sanford, CAMPBELL of 
Newfield, GROSE of Woolwich, LEWIN of Eliot, PINGREE of North Haven, WALCOTT of 
Lewiston, WEBSTER of Freeport. 
Printed <)n recycled paper 
Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to develop mental 
health assessment screen. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health 
and Human Services shall adopt rules to develop a mental health 
assessment 
screen 
to 
be 
used 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment 
of 
applicants for long-term care services under the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 22, 
section 3174-1, 
subsection 1; 
and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Department of Health and Human Services to develop data 
collection process. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and 
Human Services shall develop an efficient, cost-effective data 
collection process to identify consumers in need of mental health 
services in long-term care settings; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Department of Health and Human Services to convene 
working group. Resolved: 
That the Department of Heal th and Human 
Services shall convene a working group of interested parties to 
assist the department in developing a mental health assessment 
screen 
as 
part of 
the 
needs 
assessment 
of 
applicants 
for 
long-term care services and a data collection process to identify 
consumers in need of mental health services in long-term care 
settings; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: 
That the Department of Heal th and 
Human 
Services 
shall 
submit 
a 
report 
on 
its 
progress 
in 
developing a mental health assessment screen as part of the needs 
assessment of applicants for, and a data collection process to 
identify 
consumers 
in 
need 
of 
mental 
health 
services 
in, 
long-term care settings, including suggested legislation, to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters no later than February 1, 
2006. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human 
Services to: 
1. 
Adopt rules to develop a mental health assessment screen 
to be used in the needs assessment of applicants for long-term 
care services; 
2. 
Develop 
an efficient, cost-effective data collection 
process to identify consumers in need of mental health services 
in all long-term care settings; 
3. 
Convene a working group of interested parties to assist 
the department in developing a mental health assessment screen as 
part of the needs assessment of applicants for long-term care 
Page l-LR1963(1) 
• 
• 
• 
services and a data collection process to identify consumers in 
need of mental health services in long-term care settings; and 
4. 
Submit a report on its progress in developing a mental 
health assessment screen as part of the needs 
assessment of 
applicants 
for, 
and 
a 
data 
collection 
process 
to 
identify 
consumers in need of mental health services in, long-term care 
settings, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters no later than February 1, 2006 .