An Act To Require the Department of Health and Human Services To Annually Update Its Rules Governing Services for Children with Cognitive Impainnents and Functional Limitations
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0647
Committee Amendment CA_A_S193 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-Y

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A " to S.P. 240, L.D. 647, Bill, "An Act To 
Require the Department of Health and Human Services To Annually Update Its Rules 
Governing Services for Children with Cognitive Impainnents and Functional 
Limitations" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Require the Department of Health and Human Services To Update Its 
Rules Governing Services for Children with Cognitive Impairments and Functional 
Limitations' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-YY is enacted to read: 
§3174-YY, Coverage of rehabilitative and community support services for children 
with cognitive impairments and functional limitations 
1. Ongoing working group. The department shall establish an ongoing working 
group to evaluate research on treatments for children with cognitive impainnents and 
functional limitations to detenrune treatments that can be considered evidence-based and 
may be eligible for MaineCare reimbursement and submit those recommendations to the 
commissioner for consideration. By January 15th of each odd-numbered year, beginning 
in 2017, the working group shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdictiQn over health and human services matters that outlines the 
working group's findings, current levels of evidence for treatments and any actions that 
have been taken by the department based on the working group's recommendations. The 
ongoing working group consists of department staff, providers of services to children 
with cognitive impainnents and functional limitations, family members of children who 
receive services and advocates for children. The working group shall identify treatments 
that integrate the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient 
characteristics, culture and preference. The department shall adopt rules to develop the 
ongoing working group. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules 
as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~. ~~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 240, L.D. 647 
2. Publication of available treatments. The department shall publish the reports of 
the ongoing working group established pursuant to subsection 1 and a list of evidence-
based treatments for children with cognitive impairments and functional limitations that 
are reimbursed by MaineCare and update the list whenever a new reimbursable treatment 
is available.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, establishes an 
ongoing working group to evaluate research on treatments for children with cognitive 
impairments and functional limitations to determine treatments that are evidence-based 
and that may be eligible for MaineCare and to submit recommendations to the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services. The working group shall submit a report 
on findings, current level of evidence and actions taken by the Department of Health and 
Human Services to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters by January 15th of each odd-numbered year. It 
adds a requirement for the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a list of 
evidence-based treatments for children with cognitive impairments and functional 
limitations that are reimbursed by MaineCare. The amendment retains the rule-making 
requirement in the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/25115 
haC! 
LD647 
LR 1571(02) 
An Act To Require the Department of Health and Human Services To Annually Update Its Rules 
Governing Services for Children with Cognitive Impairments and Functional Limitations 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A'{S-I<13) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a working group to evaluate 
research on treatments for children with cognitive impairments and functional limitations to determine certain 
treatments are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR 1571 (02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1