An Act To Require Health Insurance Carriers and the MaineCare Program To Cover the Cost of Transition Services To Bridge the Gap between High School and Independence
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1367
Committee: Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: GRAHAM, ALFOND, BEAUDOIN, BEAVERS, BRIGGS, CASSIDY, CHIPMAN, COOPER, DAUGHTRY, EVANGELOS, FARNSWORTH, GATTINE, GILBERT, GRANT, KORNFIELD, LONGSTAFF, MASTRACCIO, MONAGHAN-DERRIG, PEASE, PRINGLE, RYKERSON, SCHNECK, TREAT, CRAVEN, KATZ
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-W, 24-A MRSA §4320-I

Legislative Document 
No. 1367 
H.P. 975 
House of Representatives, April 9, 2013 
An Act To Require Health Insurance Carriers and the MaineCare 
Program To Cover the Cost of Transition Services To Bridge the 
Gap between High School and Independence 
Reference to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services suggested and ordered 
printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative GRAHAM of North Yarmouth. 
Cosponsored by President ALFOND of Cumberland and 
Representatives: BEAUDOIN of Biddeford, BEAVERS of South Berwick, BRIGGS of 
Mexico, CASSIDY of Lubec, CHIPMAN of Portland, COOPER of Yarmouth, DAUGHTRY 
of Brunswick, EVANGELOS of Friendship, FARNSWORTH of Portland, GATTINE of 
Westbrook, GILBERT of Jay, GRANT of Gardiner, KORNFIELD of Bangor, LONGSTAFF 
of Waterville, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, McLEAN of Gorham, MONAGHAN-DERRIG of 
Cape Elizabeth, PEASE of Morrill, PRINGLE of Windham, RYKERSON of Kittery, 
SCHNECK of Bangor, TREAT of Hallowell, Senators: CRAVEN of Androscoggin, KATZ of 
Kennebec. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-WW is enacted to read: 
§3174-WW.  Transitional behavioral and mental health services for students after 
graduation 
For the purpose of easing the transition to independence of children receiving 
behavioral and mental health services in high school after graduation, the department 
shall provide reimbursement under the MaineCare program for outreach to and case 
management for patients who are graduating from high school or have recently graduated 
from high school and who are having difficulty complying with treatment, including 
coverage for clinic visits and for behavioral and mental health services for prevention of 
and continuation of treatment for mental health conditions and the avoidance of 
hospitalization. 
Sec. 2.  24-A MRSA §4320-I is enacted to read: 
§4320-I.  Transitional behavioral and mental health services for students after 
graduation 
For the purpose of easing the transition to independence of children receiving 
behavioral and mental health services in high school after graduation, a carrier shall 
provide coverage for outreach to and case management for patients who are graduating 
from high school or have recently graduated from high school and who are having 
difficulty complying with treatment, including coverage for clinic visits and for 
behavioral and mental health services for prevention of and continuation of treatment for 
mental health conditions and the avoidance of hospitalization. 
Sec. 3.  Transition services.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall 
require each provider of behavioral and mental health services for children to establish or 
participate in so-called bridge teams for the purpose of ensuring continuity of care for 
students receiving behavioral and mental health services who graduate from high school.  
The bridge teams shall conduct outreach and identify students prior to graduation who are 
likely to be in need of behavioral and mental health services after graduation, develop 
plans to meet those students' needs after graduation, facilitate access to services and 
coordinate the continuance of care for those students after graduation.  When developing 
plans for students, the bridge teams shall focus on prevention, continuity of treatment and 
avoidance of hospitalization. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to require providers 
of behavioral and mental health services for children to establish or participate in so-
called bridge teams for the purpose of ensuring continuity of care for students receiving 
behavioral and mental health services who graduate from high school and are likely to be 
in need of such services following graduation.  The bill also requires MaineCare and 
private health insurance carriers to provide coverage for such services.