Resolve, Regarding Home Care Service Rates for Serving Persons with Complex Medical Needs
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1619
Committee: Health and Human Services

Legislative Document 
No. 1619 
S.P. 657 
In Senate, March 1, 2016 
Resolve, Regarding Home Care Service Rates for Serving Persons 
with Complex Medical Needs 
Reported by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Order 2016, S.P. 639. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services; enhanced rates for 
home care services. Resolved:  That, beginning October 15, 2016, the Department of 
Health and Human Services' office of aging and disability services shall implement a 
demonstration project to provide enhanced rates for home care services, with 
participation limited to patients with complex medical needs who are enrolled in the 
Maine "Homeward Bound" program, which is funded by the federal Centers for Medicaid 
and Medicare Services.  The demonstration project must allow for enhanced rates that 
will provide additional reimbursement for services provided by personal support 
specialists to patients with complex medical needs, as well as on-site training of personal 
support specialist staff before services are provided, in order to promote quality of care 
and retention of staff serving patient populations with complex medical needs.  The 
Department of Health and Human Services' office of aging and disability services shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters no later than January 15, 2018 on its findings and 
recommendations regarding the provision of enhanced rates for home care services under 
this section.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters is authorized to report out legislation relating to the 
demonstration project to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2.  Department of Health and Human Services; home care services 
review. Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human Services' quality 
assurance review committee, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, 
section 5107-I shall conduct a review of the adequacy of home care services provided to 
individuals with complex needs under Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, 
Chapters II and III, Section 19, Home and Community Benefits for the Elderly and 
Adults with Disabilities.  The review must include, at a minimum, consideration of 
quality of care, emergency department visits and hospital admissions of individuals 
receiving services under Section 19.  In conducting the review, the quality assurance 
review committee shall request input from, at a minimum, consumers, care coordination 
agencies, patient advocacy organizations and home care agencies.  The Department of 
Health and Human Services shall submit a report, no later than January 15, 2017, to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters detailing the quality assurance review committee's findings and any 
recommendations for legislation regarding the adequacy of home care services provided 
under Section 19.  After reviewing the report, the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters may report out 
legislation relating to the report to the First Regular Session of the 128th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve includes recommendations of the Commission to Study Difficult-to-
place Patients.  It requires the Department of Health and Human Services' office of aging 
and disability services to implement a demonstration project that will provide enhanced 
rates for home care services, with participation limited to patients with complex medical 
needs who are enrolled in the Maine "Homeward Bound" program, which is funded by 
the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.  The Department of Health and 
Human Services' office of aging and disability services is directed to submit a report, no 
later than January 15, 2018, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters detailing its findings and any 
recommendations regarding the provision of enhanced rates for home care services. 
The resolve also requires the Department of Health and Human Services' quality 
assurance review committee to conduct a review of the adequacy of home care services 
provided to individuals with complex needs under Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits 
Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 19, Home and Community Benefits for the Elderly 
and Adults with Disabilities.  The Department of Health and Human Services is directed 
to submit a report, no later than January 15, 2017, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters detailing the 
quality assurance review committee's findings and any recommendations for legislation 
regarding the adequacy of home care services provided under Section 19. 
  The joint standing committee of the legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters is authorized to report out legislation pursuant to both of the 
reports submitted pursuant to this legislation.