An Act To Remove Barriers to Workforce Development in Alcohol and Drug Counseling and To Increase the MaineCare Reimbursement Rates for Certain Counselors
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1376
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: GRANT, BELLOWS, BATES, BEEBE-CENTER, SYLVESTER, DION, SAVIELLO
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-L, 32 MRSA §6207-B, 32 MRSA §6214-D, 32 MRSA §6216

Legislative Document
No. 1376
H.P. 955
House of Representatives, April 11, 2017
An Act To Remove Barriers to Workforce Development in Alcohol 
and Drug Counseling and To Increase the MaineCare 
Reimbursement Rates for Certain Counselors
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRANT of Gardiner.
Cosponsored by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec and
Representatives: BATES of Westbrook, BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, McCREIGHT of 
Harpswell, SYLVESTER of Portland, Senators: DION of Cumberland, SAVIELLO of 
Franklin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-L, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  Licensed clinical professional counselors.  A licensed clinical professional 
counselor, as defined in Title 32, section 13851, subsection 2, must be eligible to receive 
MaineCare reimbursement for counseling services at the same rate as a licensed clinical 
social worker, as defined in Title 32, section 7001-A, subsection 6. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §6207-B is enacted to read: 
§6207-B.  Confidential information 
The nonbusiness address of a person licensed or certified under this chapter is 
confidential, not open to the public and not a public record as defined in Title 1, section 
402, subsection 3. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §6214-D, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 347, §16 and 
affected by §25, is amended to read: 
D.  Meet one of the following educational requirements: 
(1)  A high school diploma or its equivalent, course work as defined by board 
rule and a minimum of 6,000 hours of documented supervised practice in alcohol 
and drug counseling or 2,000 hours if the applicant holds a valid certified alcohol 
and drug counselor certification and 2,000 hours of documented supervised 
practice in alcohol and drug counseling; 
(2)  An associate or bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in 
clinically based behavioral sciences or addiction counseling or a related field as 
defined by board rule, course work as defined by board rule and a minimum of 
4,000 2,000 hours of documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug 
counseling; or 
(3)  A master's degree from an accredited college or university in clinically based 
behavioral sciences or addiction counseling or a related field as defined by board 
rule, course work as defined by board rule and a minimum of 2,000 1,000 hours 
of documented supervised practice in alcohol and drug counseling. 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §6216, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 347, §18 and 
affected by §25, is amended to read: 
§6216.  Examinations 
The board shall prepare an examination to measure the competence of an applicant to 
engage in the practice of alcohol and drug counseling in accordance with this chapter.  
The board may employ and cooperate with any organization or consultant in the 
preparation, administration and grading of an examination.  The board may adopt rules 
establishing examination criteria.  Applicants for examination must pay an examination 
fee as set under section 6215.  Examinations must be offered at least once every month 
and must be conducted if there is an applicant.  A license or certificate must be issued 
within 10 business days of a passing examination score.  An applicant may submit 
applications for the examination and the license or certificate at the same time. 
Sec. 5.  MaineCare reimbursement rates increased.  No later than October 1, 
2017, the Department of Health and Human Services shall increase rates of 
reimbursement under the MaineCare Benefits Manual, rule Chapter 101:  Chapters II and 
III, Sections 13, 17, 23, 28, 65 and 97 by a net increase of 20% over the reimbursement 
rate as of June 30, 2016. 
Sec. 6.  State Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors to amend rules.  No 
later than January 1, 2018, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, 
State Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors shall amend its rules regarding continuing 
professional education for alcohol and drug counselors as follows. 
1.  Reduce the hours for continuing professional education for certified alcohol and 
drug counselors from 24 contact hours every 2 years to 18 contact hours every 2 years. 
2.  Reduce the hours for continuing professional education for licensed alcohol and 
drug counselors from 36 contact hours every 2 years to 25 contact hours every 2 years. 
3.  Reduce the hours for continuing professional education for licensed alcohol and 
drug counselors who are also certified clinical supervisors from a total of 48 contact 
hours every 2 years to a total of 37 contact hours every 2 years. 
4.  Increase the maximum hours allowed for distance learning as a permissible 
continuing education activity from 10 hours to 20 hours. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to increase the rates 
of reimbursement under the MaineCare Benefits Manual, rule Chapter 101:  Chapters II 
and III, Sections 13, 17, 23, 28, 65 and 97 by 20% over the rates in June 2016 by October 
1, 2017. 
The bill also makes the following changes to the laws and rules regulating alcohol 
and drug counselors. 
1.  It requires reimbursement under the MaineCare program for the services of a 
licensed clinical professional counselor at the same rate as a licensed clinical social 
worker. 
2.  It allows a person to qualify as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor if that person 
holds a certified alcohol and drug counseling certificate and completes 2,000 hours of 
practice in alcohol and drug counseling. 
3.  It reduces the number of hours of documented supervised practice in counseling 
required to qualify as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. 
4.  It requires the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, State Board 
of Alcohol and Drug Counselors to offer qualifying examinations at least once every 
month and conduct the examination if there is an applicant and to issue a license or 
certificate within 10 days of a passing examination score.  It also allows an applicant to 
submit an application for the examination and the license at the same time. 
5.  It makes the home addresses of certified and licensed alcohol and drug counselors, 
certified clinical supervisors and alcohol and drug counseling aides confidential. 
6.  It reduces the required number of contact hours in continuing professional 
education for certified and licensed alcohol and drug counselors.