Resolve, Requiring the State To Reimburse Providers for Costs Incurred Due to MaineCare Reimbursement Delays
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1631
Committee Amendment CA_A_H731 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A" to H.P. 1149, L.D. 1631, "Resolve, 
Requiring the State To Reimburse Providers for Costs Incurred Due 
to MaineCare Reimbursement Delays" 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title 
and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: 
. Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, providers of MaineCare services that have incurred 
costs due to the MaineCare Claims Management System or "MECMS" 
have been incurring those costs since early in 2005 and are in 
immediate need of reimbursement for those costs; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to reimburse 
providers. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and 
Human 
Services shall 
reimburse providers of MaineCare 
services 
for 
costs incurred during 2005 as 
a 
result of delays in payment 
caused by the implementation of the MaineCare Claims Management 
System or "MECMS." 
Page l-LR2331(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1149, L.D. 1631 
1. 
Application. 
Reimbursement for costs incurred under 
this resolve applies to costs associated with the implementation 
of MECMS, specifically to costs incurred by providers during 2005 
as a result of the failure of MECMS to properly process claims. 
Costs incurred before 2005 or on or after January 1, 2006 do not 
qualify for reimbursement under this resolve. 
2. 
Rulemakinq. 
The Department of Health and Human Services 
shall adopt rules regarding claims from providers of MaineCare 
services for reimbursement under this resolve. 
The rules must 
define 
what 
types 
of 
costs qualify for 
reimbursement, 
what 
documentation of those 
costs is required and the method of 
application. 
Rules 
adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A: and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Status reports. Resolved: 
That, 
during 
2006, 
the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall provide periodic 
status reports to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services on claims from providers of MaineCare services for 
reimbursement and payments made under this resolve: and be it 
further 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. ' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. 
The 
amendment replaces the resolve. 
It adds 
emergency language, 
retains the provisions of the resolve that call for payment of 
provider costs and adds provisions to the resolve defining the 
time 
period 
of 
the 
incurred 
costs, 
requ~r~ng 
rulemaking 
concerning claims for reimbursement and requiring periodic status 
reports for the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services regarding claims 
and payments 
made pursuant to the 
resolve. 
This amendment adds an appropriation to the resolve. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 12/23/05 ~ac 
LD 1631 
LR 2331(02) 
Resolve, Requiring the State To Reimburse Providers for Costs Incurred Due to MaineCare 
Reimbursement Delays 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,,/~It 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
The bill as drafted would create a significant liability/cost for the Department of Health and Human Services to 
reimburse providers of Maine Care services for costs incurred during 2005 as a result of delays in payments caused by 
the implementation of a new MaineCare claims management system (MECMS). While the Department has indicated 
it is planning to request an appropriation of $4 million to reimburse MaineCare providers for the interest costs they 
incurred resulting from MECMS-related payment delays, the fiscal impact of this bill cannot be determined at this 
time because costs to be reimbursed are not sufficiently defined or otherwise limited. 
LR2331(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1