An Act To Start a Pilot Program for Medical Substitution Treatment in a Local Community Setting
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0524
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: GRATWICK, GOODE, ALFOND, DILL, CAMPBELL, FREY, LOCKMAN, TIPPING-SPITZ, TUCKER
Amends: 5 MRSA §20010

Legislative Document 
No. 524 
S.P. 193 
In Senate, February 26, 2015 
An Act To Start a Pilot Program for Medical Substitution 
Treatment in a Local Community Setting 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator GRATWICK of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative GOODE of Bangor and 
Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, DILL of Penobscot, Representatives: CAMPBELL of 
Orrington, FREY of Bangor, LOCKMAN of Amherst, TIPPING-SPITZ of Orono, TUCKER 
of Brunswick. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §20010 is enacted to read: 
§20010.  Methadone treatment 
The department shall take the following steps to reduce the cost of and increase 
access to methadone treatment. 
1.  Licensing.  The department shall license as a methadone treatment clinic a 
federally qualified health center or other health care provider or medical practice that 
applies for licensure and meets all state and federal requirements for methadone treatment 
clinics. 
2.  Treatment location.  The department shall work with licensed methadone 
treatment clinics to facilitate distribution of and access to services across the State by: 
A.  Establishing a pilot location for medication-assisted treatment of narcotic 
addiction using methadone, or other pharmacologic agents providing similar benefits, 
in a rural area at least 30 miles from any currently licensed methadone treatment 
clinic; 
B.  Exploring the use of physicians' offices or other facilities focused on the delivery 
of health care as potential satellite methadone treatment sites; 
C.  Exploring the use of mobile methadone treatment facilities; and 
D.  Using funds saved by reductions in MaineCare transportation costs due to new 
treatment locations to improve access to methadone treatment in rural areas of the 
State. 
The department shall work with other agencies and organizations to develop job, 
vocational and career opportunities for those receiving treatment in their local 
communities. 
3.  Rules.  The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 2.  Rules.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend the 
rules for licensed methadone treatment clinics to eliminate the requirement that the 
centers be open for administration of methadone treatment on Sundays.  Rules adopted 
pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.  The department shall work with current 
clinics, potential licensees, federal parties and other stakeholder groups to address 
barriers to providing this service that exist in rules and policies at local, state and national 
levels. 
SUMMARY 
This bill proposes to decrease the cost of and increase access to substance abuse 
treatment services by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to increase 
the number of federally qualified health centers that provide methadone treatment 
services, to establish a pilot clinic location in a rural area at least 30 miles from any 
currently licensed methadone treatment clinic and to work to facilitate access to services 
and distribution of services across the State.  The bill requires the department to amend 
the methadone clinic rules to eliminate the requirement that the centers be open for 
administration of methadone treatment on Sundays.  The bill designates the rules as 
routine technical rules.  The department is required to work with stakeholders to address 
current rules and policies that act as barriers to achieve the intent of this legislation.