Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Review Rules Governing Reimbursement to MaineCare Recipients for Transportation to Freestanding Methadone Clinics
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1694
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BURNS, THOMAS, CRAY, DAVIS, HANLEY, VOLK, WILLETTE, LANGLEY, MASON, RAYE

Legislative Document 
No. 1694 
H.P. 1246 
House of Representatives, December 23, 2011 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services 
To Review Rules Governing Reimbursement to MaineCare 
Recipients for Transportation to Freestanding Methadone Clinics 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 21, 2011.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BURNS of Whiting. 
Cosponsored by Senator THOMAS of Somerset and 
Representatives: CRAY of Palmyra, DAVIS of Sangerville, HANLEY of Gardiner, VOLK of 
Scarborough, WILLETTE of Mapleton, Senators: LANGLEY of Hancock, MASON of 
Androscoggin, President RAYE of Washington. 
Sec. 1.  Definitions.  Resolved:  That, as used in this resolve, unless the context 
otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings: 
1.  "Client" means a MaineCare recipient who receives treatment at a clinic; 
2.  "Clinic" means a freestanding methadone clinic within the State; and 
3.  "Community agency" means a community agency that provides transportation 
services for clients to clinics; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Review; rules.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall review reimbursement to clients for transportation to clinics and shall adopt 
rules to ensure uniformity in reimbursement throughout the State and to reduce the 
incidence of fraud.  The department shall solicit input from community agencies 
throughout the State regarding the protocols used by the various agencies to schedule and 
verify appointments to clinics.  The department shall also solicit input from district 
attorneys within the State regarding any instances of fraud in such reimbursement.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this section must include the following requirements:  
1.  In order to receive reimbursement for transportation to a clinic, a client must 
contact a community agency prior to the date of the scheduled appointment at the clinic 
and state that the client cannot afford to keep the appointment unless the client receives 
reimbursement; 
2.  Prior to providing transportation services, a community agency shall confirm the 
client's eligibility for MaineCare benefits.  The department shall facilitate such 
confirmation by authorizing access by community agencies to MaineCare eligibility 
databases; 
3.  The client shall provide written confirmation of the client's current address at the 
time of the scheduled appointment; 
4.  The client shall file a form after each trip documenting mileage and tolls and the 
community agency shall confirm that mileage and tolls are reasonable;  
5.  A clinic shall require that a client seeking travel reimbursement sign in at the time 
of the provision of clinic services.  The clinic shall share its appointment schedule for that 
client with the community agency; 
6.  A clinic shall deploy a video surveillance system sufficient to identify the drivers 
and occupants of all vehicles arriving at the clinic.  Clinic staff shall confirm that a client 
requesting transportation reimbursement arrived in a vehicle at the appropriate time; and 
7.  If a client is found to have filed a false claim for reimbursement for transportation 
to a clinic, the clinic shall suspend approving transportation reimbursement for that client.  
The clinic shall report the fraud to the community agency and the community agency 
shall report the fraud to the department. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall submit a report on its review and rules adopted pursuant to section 2 to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters by December 15, 2012. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to review 
reimbursement to MaineCare recipients for transportation to freestanding methadone 
clinics and to adopt rules to ensure uniformity in reimbursement throughout the State and 
reduce the incidence of fraud.  The department is directed to submit a report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters by December 15, 2012.