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 Amendment CA_A_H783 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to H.P. 1246, L.D. 1694, "Resolve, Directing 
the Department of Health and Human Services To Review Rules Governing 
Reimbursement to MaineCare Recipients for Transportation to Freestanding Methadone 
Clinics" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Review Rules 
Governing Reimbursement to MaineCare Recipients for Transportation to and 
from MaineCare Services' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Review; rules. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall review reimbursement under the MaineCare program for transportation of 
MaineCare members to and from MaineCare services, including but not limited to 
methadone treatment services at freestanding methadone clinics, in order to improve 
consistency across the State, to prevent and detect fraud and to decrease costs to the 
MaineCare program. The department shall report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by December 15, 
2012 the results of its review, including recommendations for action by the department 
and the Legislature. 
In conducting the review required by this resolve, the department shall: 
1. Solicit input from health care providers, the MaineCare advisory committee within 
the Department of Health and Human Services, regional transportation providers and 
freestanding methadone clinics throughout the State regarding potential use of 
transportation brokers across the State, protocols used to confirm member eligibility for 
transportation services, methods for arranging, scheduling and verifying the use of 
transportation services, methods to obtain patient consent and methods for sharing 
information among the patient, the health care provider or the freestanding methadone 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
d'Co' 
«" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1246, L.D, 1694 
clinic, the transportation provider and the office of MaineCare services within the 
Department of Health and Human Services; 
2. 
Solicit input from district attorneys regarding any instances of suspected or 
confirmed fraud in MaineCarc reimbursement for transportation to and from health care 
providers and methadone treatmcnt services at freestanding methadone clinics; 
3. 
Review the rcquirements for member eligibility for transportation services, 
including verification of the member's place of residence, transportation reimbursement 
that is limited to the closest health care provider, requirements for requesting and 
scheduling transportation services and options and procedures for terminating 
transportation reimbursement for a member who violates department rules or 
requirements of a health care provider or freestanding methadone clinic; 
4. 
Review, establish a timeline for and report on progress toward a regional 
transportation system for serving MaineCare members that uses transportation brokers, 
pays a flat rate per month per MaineCare member to the transportation broker and 
provides some degree of standardization across the State; and 
5. Review options for limiting transportation reimbursement allowable under federal 
law and regulation and options for coordinating transportation services in order to 
decrease costs when transportation is needed for more than one type of MaineCare 
service.' 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to review 
reimbursement for transportation for MaineCare members to and from MaineCare 
services, including but not limited to freestanding methadone clinics that provide 
methadone treatment services. The amendment directs the Department of Health and 
Human Services to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by December 15,2012. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/23/12 
~c::zc. 
LD 1694 
LR 2640(02) 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Review Rules Governing 
Reimbursement to MaineCare Recipients for Transportation to Freestanding Methadone Clinics 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H- 763) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
The additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to review and report on transportation 
reimbursement to freestanding methadone clinics can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR2640(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1