Resolve, To Demonstrate Cost Savings by Preventing the Onset of Severe Mental Illness in Youth
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1567
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: EBERLE, CUMMINGS, ANNIS, BLISS, CRAVEN, HINCK, MILLER, PERRY, BARTLETI, SCHNEIDER

Legislative Document 
No. 1567 
H.P.I092 
House of Representatives, March 20, 2007 
Resolve, To Demonstrate Cost Savings by Preventing the Onset of 
Severe Mental Illness in Youth 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative EBERLE of South Portland. 
Cosponsored by Speaker CUMMINGS of Portland and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ANNIS of Dover-Foxcroft, BLISS of South Portland, CRAVEN of Lewiston, 
HINCK of Portland, MILLER of Somerville, PERRY of Calais, Senators: BARTLETI of 
Cumberland, SCHNEIDER of Penobscot. 
Printt:d on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the State has the responsibility to provide treatment and care for its 
citizens with severe mental illness; and 
Whereas, that responsibility is a considerable financial burden to the citizens of the 
State; and 
Whereas, the Portland Identification and Early Referral Program, referred to in this 
resolve as "PIER," at Maine Medical Center has conducted a research project that has 
indicated that a large proportion of adolescents and young adults within PIER who are at 
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high risk for severe mental illness, including mental illness that begins with an episode of 
psychosis, have not had the onset of psychosis at the expected rate; and 
Whereas, such prevention of psychosis is associated with a much reduced degree of 
disability in youth in academic, social and vocational activities; and 
Whereas, the rate of new cases of psychosis with hospitalizations is rising across 
the State, except in the area served by PIER; and 
Whereas, this increased rate will lead directly to an increased financial and social 
burden to the State; and 
Whereas, PIER has documented substantial savings for the costs of psychiatric 
hospitalizations for the greater Portland area for the past five years; and 
Whereas, there is a need to determine if the increase of young people developing a 
severe psychotic mental illness being seen in the State can be prevented; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
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 initiate 
demonstration program. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall: 
1. Initiate a demonstration program to determine whether the methods used by PIER 
can have the effect of preventing a substantial number of new cases of psychosis and 
psychotic disorders in young people from 12 years of age to 25 years of age; and 
2. Provide financial resources to PIER to continue to prevent new cases of psychosis 
and psychotic disorders in the greater Portland area and provide training and consultation 
necessary to ensure that a new program developed in the State will be as effective and 
reliable as PIER; and be it further 
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Sec. 2. 
Elements of demonstration program and financial assistance. 
Resolved: 
That the elements of the demonstration program and financial assistance 
under section I include: 
I. A person 12 years of age to 25 years of age must be determined to be at high risk 
for a psychotic disorder only by using internationally accepted criteria, assessed by 
reliable and trained staff; 
2. A program authorized by the Department of Health and Human Services must 
integrate training, evaluation and certification by PIER in assessments and preventive 
treatment for young people at high risk for psychosis to be eligible for financial resources 
by the State for those services; 
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3. 
The Department of Health and Human Services shall use MaineCare funds, 
including funds pursuant to the Katie Beckett option authorized by the federal Tax Equity 
and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 to support certified psychosis prevention services 
for 75 young persons during fiscal year 2008-09; 
4. The Department of Health and Human Services may spend up to $400,000 of 
MaineCare funds in addition to the funds expended in subsection 3 to support the 
demonstration program in section one, subsection I; 
5. The Department of Health and Human Services annually shall evaluate the clinical 
and financial outcomes of the project and only continue the program if the services are 
found to be cost-effective; and 
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6. The Department of Health and Human Services shall evaluate the feasibility and 
expected effectiveness of expanding psychosis prevention programs similar to PIER to 
include other areas of the State. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited In the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to initiate a 
demonstration program to determine whether the methods used by the Portland 
Identification and Early Referral Program, or PIER, can have the effect of preventing a 
substantial number of new cases of psychosis and psychotic disorders in young people 
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from 12 years of age to 25 years of age. The demonstration program would provide 
financial resources to PIER to continue to prevent new cases of psychosis and psychotic 
disorders in the greater Portland area and would provide training and consultation 
necessary to ensure that a new program developed in the State will be as effective and 
reliable as PIER.