An Act To Establish a Pilot Project for Medicaid Reimbursement for Acupuncture Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0185
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MALABY, CHACE, HARVELL, HEAD, NADEAU, PERRY
Amends: 22-A MRSA §203

Legislative Document
No. 185
H.P. 141
House of Representatives, January 24, 2017
An Act To Establish a Pilot Project for Medicaid Reimbursement 
for Acupuncture Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MALABY of Hancock.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CHACE of Durham, HARVELL of Farmington, HEAD of 
Bethel, NADEAU of Winslow, PERRY of Calais.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22-A MRSA §203, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Pilot projects.  The department shall develop pilot projects and demonstration 
projects required by law, and shall apply for any authorization necessary to undertake 
such projects. 
Sec. 2.  Acupuncture pilot project.  By January 1, 2018, the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the department's office of substance abuse and mental 
health services shall apply for authorization from the United States Department of Health 
and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop a pilot 
project in accordance with this section to treat alcohol abuse disorders, substance abuse 
disorders and co-occurring disorders using the National Acupuncture Detoxification 
Association auricular acupuncture protocol. 
1.  Pilot project standards.  The treatment under the pilot project must be performed 
by project staff who have been trained to perform the National Acupuncture 
Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol, who practice acupuncture 
within the scope of their license in this State and whose licenses to practice are in good 
standing.  The Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of 
substance abuse and mental health services shall consult with a statewide association of 
licensed acupuncturists to establish treatment standards that are consistent with the 
National Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol. 
2.  Patient limits and financing.  The pilot project must be limited to a finite number 
of patients determined by the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
department's office of substance abuse and mental health services and may last no longer 
than 2 years. Acupuncture treatment under the project must be reimbursable as allowed 
under the United States Social Security Act, Title XIX and it must be developed and 
implemented in a manner that ensures that it will be cost-neutral or will result in savings 
to the MaineCare program. 
3.  Report.  The Department of Health and Human Services and the department's 
office of substance abuse and mental health services shall submit a report on the results of 
the pilot project, including recommendations for continuing the project, to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters at the conclusion of the pilot project. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the department's 
office of substance abuse and mental health services to apply by January 1, 2018 for 
authorization from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services to develop a pilot project to treat alcohol abuse 
disorders, substance abuse disorders and co-occurring disorders using the National 
Acupuncture Detoxification Association auricular acupuncture protocol.  The bill requires 
the department to consult with a statewide association representing licensed 
acupuncturists in the establishment of treatment standards.  The bill requires that the 
treatment be provided by staff who are licensed to practice acupuncture in the State and 
whose licenses are in good standing.  The project may last no longer than 2 years and 
must be reimbursable as allowed under the United States Social Security Act and be cost-
neutral or result in savings to the MaineCare program.  The department and the office 
must report their findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the end of the project.