An Act To Ensure Access to Behavioral Health Services
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1517
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PERRY, CHIPMAN, CHACE, DENNO, MALABY, MARTIN, TALBOT ROSS, KATZ
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 22 MRSA §3195, 34-B MRSA §3911

Legislative Document
No. 1517
H.P. 1041
House of Representatives, April 25, 2017
An Act To Ensure Access to Behavioral Health Services
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PERRY of Calais.
Cosponsored by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland and
Representatives: CHACE of Durham, DENNO of Cumberland, MALABY of Hancock, 
MARTIN of Eagle Lake, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, Senator: KATZ of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§60-C is enacted to read: 
60-C.    
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3195 is enacted to read: 
§3195.  Rate-setting for certain MaineCare services 
1.  Elements of rate-setting.  The department shall set reimbursement rates for 
targeted case management services, community support services, developmental and 
behavioral evaluation clinic services, rehabilitative and community support services for 
children with cognitive impairments and functional limitations, behavioral health services 
and private nonmedical institution services pursuant to this section.  Rate-setting must: 
A.  Use actual provider costs related to the services; 
B.  Survey stakeholders for all services and include the stakeholders in this review 
process; and 
C.  Use actual cost-related data generated by current service providers, with 
reasonable, timely and expected verification processes by the department, to calculate 
reimbursement rates that reflect the actual cost of service delivery. 
2.  Study.  New rates under this section must be based on a department study 
conducted on neutral cost-finding principles and take into account the most recent 
available information about actually incurred costs, adjusted for inflation from the period 
when the costs were incurred through the period to which the rates are to apply. 
3.  Cost elements.  Rates established pursuant to this section must provide for 
compensation of providers of the services in subsection 1 for the following cost elements: 
A.  Direct salary of the provider; 
B.  Direct benefits for the provider, including health care and other employee 
benefits; 
C.  Direct program support for the provider, including costs for clinical supervision; 
D.  Direct costs, including occupancy, utilities, travel and liability insurance 
expenses; 
E.  Indirect costs; 
F.  Actual costs for special populations; and 
G.  Actual costs for providing services in a rural setting. 
Mental Health 
Behavioral Health 
Oversight Council 
Legislative Per Diem 
and Expenses for 
Legislators/Expenses 
Only for Other 
Members 
34-B MRSA §3911
Payments per unit of service must be based on realistic estimates of achievable 
productivity targets, using information from actual provider experience and accounting 
for cancellations, failures to keep appointments, travel, training and education. 
4.  Rate review initiated.  The department shall conduct a rate review pursuant to 
this section in cases of substantive changes in federal or state programs or evidence-based 
programs that affect the total cost of delivery of a particular MaineCare-funded service. 
Sec. 3.  34-B MRSA c. 3, sub-c. 6 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 6 
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OVERSIGHT COUNCIL 
§3911.  Behavioral Health Oversight Council 
1.  Members.  The Behavioral Health Oversight Council, as established by Title 5, 
section 12004-I, subsection 60-C and referred to in this subchapter as "the council," 
consists of the following 15 members: 
A.  The chairs of the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters, appropriations and financial affairs and 
criminal justice and public safety matters; 
B.  The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's 
designee, the Commissioner of Corrections or the commissioner's designee and the 
Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner's designee; 
C.  Two members appointed by the President of the Senate, including: 
(1)  A consumer of or an advocate for consumers of behavioral health services; 
and 
(2)  A representative of providers of behavioral health services; 
D.  Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
including: 
(1)  A consumer of or an advocate for consumers of behavioral health services; 
and 
(2)  A representative of providers of behavioral health services; and 
E.  Two members appointed by the Governor, representing the law enforcement and 
public safety community. 
The council may appoint advisory council members who have experience and expertise in 
particular services under consideration. 
2.  Terms; reappointments; vacancies.  A member of the council who is appointed 
pursuant to subsection 1 serves for a 3-year term and may be reappointed.  A vacancy on 
the council of an appointed member must be filled by the appointing authority. 
3.  Chairs; meetings; staff assistance.  The chairs of the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters or their 
designees shall serve as cochairs of the council.  The council shall meet not less than 6 
times a year. 
The Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide staff support for the operation of 
the council, except that this staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in 
regular or special session. In addition, the council may contract for administrative, 
professional and clerical services if funding permits. 
4.  Duties.  The council shall review rates pursuant to subsection 5 and advise the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Corrections and the 
Commissioner of Public Safety regarding the behavioral health system in the State in 
order to: 
A.  Increase accessibility of high-quality behavioral health services through: 
(1)  Expansion of individualized, family-centered and community-based services; 
(2)  Maximization of federal revenue to fund behavioral health services; and 
(3)  Improved administrative oversight and efficiencies; and 
B.  Aid in the development of a community system of care to: 
(1)  Alleviate hospital emergency department overcrowding; 
(2)  Reduce unnecessary admissions and lengths of stay in hospitals and 
residential treatment settings; 
(3)  Reduce or alleviate the need for treatment of mental health and substance use 
disorder within the correctional settings of state and county facilities; 
(4)  Increase availability of outpatient services; and 
(5)  Promote recovery-oriented care. 
5.  Review rates.  Notwithstanding Title 5, chapter 375, the Department of Health 
and Human Services, office of substance abuse and mental health services, office of 
aging and disability services and Office of Child and Family Services shall submit 
proposals for initial rates, reductions to existing rates and any changes in elements of 
rate-setting under Title 22, section 3195 to the council for review.  The council shall 
review the proposals. If the council does not recommend acceptance of a proposal, it may 
forward a counter-recommendation to the joint standing committees of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and appropriations and 
financial affairs.  If the council forwards a recommendation to the joint standing 
committees pursuant to this subsection, the joint standing committees shall: 
A.  Hold a joint public hearing on the subject of the proposed rates to receive the 
council's rationale for its recommendation; and 
B.  Not later than 90 days after the date of submission of rates by the departments to 
the council, make recommendations to the departments regarding the proposed rates.  
The departments shall incorporate recommendations of both the council and the joint 
standing committees when setting rates. 
6.  Reports.  On or before the first Wednesday in December annually, the council 
shall submit a report to the Governor and to the joint standing committees of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and appropriations 
and financial affairs on the council's activities under this section. 
Sec. 4.  Behavioral Health Oversight Council first appointments, terms 
and meeting.  All appointments to the Behavioral Health Oversight Council pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-B, section 3911, subsection 1 must be made no later 
than October 1, 2017. 
Notwithstanding Title 34-B, section 3911, subsection 2, of the members initially 
appointed to the Behavioral Health Oversight Council pursuant section 3911, subsection 
1, paragraph C, the President of the Senate shall appoint one member to serve for a 2-year 
term and one member to serve for a 3-year term; of the members initially appointed to the 
council pursuant to Title 34-B, section 3911, subsection 1, paragraph D, the Speaker of 
the House shall appoint one member to serve for a 2-year term and one member to serve 
for a 3-year term; and, of the members initially appointed to the council pursuant to Title 
34-B, section 3911, subsection 1, paragraph E, the Governor shall appoint one member to 
serve for a 2-year term and one member to serve for a 3-year term. 
The chairs of the council shall convene the first meeting of the council no later than 
October 18, 2017. 
Sec. 5.  Department of Health and Human Services to increase 
MaineCare rates.  No later than June 1, 2018, the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall amend the rules in Chapter 101:  MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, 
Section 13, Targeted Case Management Services; Section 17, Allowances for Community 
Support Services; Section 23, Developmental and Behavioral Clinic Services; Section 28, 
Rehabilitative and Community Support Services for Children with Cognitive 
Impairments and Functional Limitations; Section 65, Behavioral Health Services; and 
Section 97, Private Non-Medical Institution Services to increase reimbursement rates to 
ensure a net increase in funding from fiscal year 2008-09 to fiscal year 2018-19 of 20%. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes the Behavioral Health Oversight Council to review 
reimbursement rate-setting for certain behavioral health services provided under 
MaineCare and advise the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, the 
Commissioner of Corrections and the Commissioner of Public Safety regarding the 
behavioral health system in the State.  It sets out requirements for reimbursement rate-
setting to be used by the Department of Health and Human Services to determine rates for 
certain behavioral health services provided under MaineCare.  It directs the Department 
of Health and Human Services to amend its rules in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits 
Manual, Chapter III, Sections 13, 17, 23, 28, 65 and 97 to increase reimbursement rates 
by fiscal year 2018-19 to reflect a 20% increase from rates in fiscal year 2008-09.