An Act To Improve Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care by Providing Care in Clinical Reproductive and Sexual Health Care Settings”
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1946
Committee Amendment CA_A_H827 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1390, L.D. 1946, “An Act To Improve 
Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care by Providing Care in Clinical Reproductive 
and Sexual Health Care Settings”
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, To Improve Access to Behavioral Health Care by Providing Care in Clinical 
Reproductive and Sexual Health Care Settings'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'Sec. 1.  Pilot project to deliver behavioral health services in reproductive 
and sexual health care settings.  Resolved:  That there is established within the 
Department of Health and Human Services, referred to in this resolve as "the department," 
a pilot project to deliver behavioral health services by licensed mental health professionals 
in clinical reproductive and sexual health care settings to provide for greater screening for, 
and access to and care coordination of, behavioral health services for populations at risk 
for mental health issues and substance use disorder.
1.  Definitions.  As used in this resolve, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Behavioral health services" means the treatment of mental health issues and 
substance use disorder.
B.  "Clinical reproductive and sexual health care setting" means a nonprofit 
organization, public or private, engaged in providing family planning services.
C.  "Family planning services" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 22, section 1902, subsection 4.
D.  "Licensed mental health professional" means a licensed psychiatrist, licensed 
psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or licensed clinical professional 
counselor.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1390, L.D. 1946
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
2.  Pilot project components.  To the extent permitted by resources allocated to the 
pilot project, the pilot project must be designed to include the following:
A.  Support for infrastructure to reduce barriers for populations at risk for mental health 
issues and substance use disorder to access behavioral health services in clinical 
reproductive and sexual health care settings, including by directly providing behavioral 
health services or by entering into a memorandum of understanding with a community-
based mental health agency licensed by the State to directly bill for behavioral health 
services located on the same site;
B.  Demonstrated ability to provide in-house behavioral health services by a licensed 
mental health professional that include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)  Early identification, intervention and referral services;
(2) Use of standardized screening tools, such as the Patient Health 
Questionnaire, the CAGE questionnaire and the Screening, Brief Intervention 
and Referral to Treatment tool, for depression, anxiety, domestic or 
interpersonal violence and substance use or misuse, including use or misuse of 
alcohol, tobacco and opioids; and
(3)  Intervention services, as appropriate, including but not limited to short-
term depression or anxiety counseling services, tobacco cessation counseling 
and treatment and access to naloxone hydrochloride;
C.  Demonstrated ability to provide effective, equitable, understandable and respectful 
high-quality care and behavioral health services that are affirming of and sensitive to 
cultural differences;
D.  Referrals to other appropriate services, such as crisis intervention, mental health 
outpatient services, medication-assisted treatment and substance use disorder 
treatment;
E.  Assistance in navigating the health care system, including assistance with the 
completion of eligibility applications for health care and locating medical services; and
F.  Coordination of care with other health care providers, as appropriate.
3.  Pilot project implementation.  The clinical reproductive and sexual health care 
settings for the pilot project must be selected on the basis of applications demonstrating 
interest in implementing the pilot project and capacity to implement the pilot project.  The 
department shall strive to approve applications of settings of varying sizes and as 
geographically diverse as practicable given the pool of applicants.  The department may 
phase in selected elements of the pilot project over the course of the pilot project.
4.  Duration of pilot project.  The department shall enter into contracts no later than 
days after the effective date of this legislation with the clinical reproductive and sexual 
health care settings selected pursuant to subsection 3 to implement the pilot project.  The 
pilot project must operate for 18 months from the date all of the contracts have been 
awarded.
5.  Funding.  The department shall seek and apply for available federal funds or funds 
from any other sources to pay the costs of the pilot project.  To the maximum extent 
possible, the department shall use state funds received for the pilot project to maximize its 
receipt of federal funds to be used for the pilot project.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1390, L.D. 1946
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
6.  Report on pilot project. The department shall report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
regarding the pilot project by January 1, 2022 and at the conclusion of the pilot project. 
The report must address the effectiveness of increased access to behavioral health services 
under the pilot project established pursuant to this resolve, the schedule for full 
implementation, if recommended by the department, and any additional funding needed to 
accomplish full implementation. The joint standing committee may submit legislation to 
the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature regarding the pilot project, including 
legislation to continue or expand the pilot project. 
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  Resolved:  That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Mental Health Services - Community Z198
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for an 18-month pilot project to deliver behavioral 
health services by licensed mental health professionals in clinical reproductive and sexual 
health care settings to provide for greater screening for, and access to and care coordination 
of, behavioral health services for populations at risk for mental health issues and substance 
use disorder.
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$0
$75,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$75,000
'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the bill with 
a resolve.  The resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish 
an 18-month pilot project to deliver behavioral health services by licensed mental health 
professionals in clinical reproductive and sexual health care settings to provide for greater 
screening for, and access to and care coordination of, behavioral health services for 
populations at risk for mental health issues and substance use disorder.  The resolve directs 
the department to seek and apply for available federal funds or funds from any other sources 
to pay the costs of the project and provides that the department, to the maximum extent 
possible, must use state funds received for the pilot project to maximize its receipt of federal 
funds to be used for the pilot project.  The resolve provides funding of $75,000 for 
implementing the first year of the 18-month pilot project.  It is anticipated that the same 
amount of funding will be required in fiscal year 2021-22.
It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to submit reports by 
January 1, 2022 and at the conclusion of the pilot project regarding the implementation of 
the pilot project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “      ” to H.P. 1390, L.D. 1946
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
jurisdiction over health and human services matters may submit legislation related to the 
pilot project to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Revised: 07/17/20
LD 1946
LR 3033(02)
FY 2019-20
FY 2020-21
Projections 
FY 2021-22
Projections 
FY 2022-23
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund
$0
$75,000
$75,000
$0
Appropriations/Allocations
General Fund
$0
$75,000
$75,000
$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of 
$75,000 in fiscal year 2020-21 to fund the first half of an 18-month pilot project to deliver behavioral health services 
by licensed mental health professionals in clinical reproductive and sexual health care settings to provide for greater 
screening of, access to and care coordination of behavioral health services for populations at risk for mental health 
issues and substance use disorder. It is the intent of this bill that an additinal $75,000 be appropriated in fiscal year 
2021-22 for the same purpose.
The bill requires the DHHS, to the maximum extent possible, to utilize the state funding received for the pilot project 
to maximize the receipt of federal funds for use on the pilot project. If the DHHS is not able to receive federal or 
other grant funding to run the pilot, additional state funds may be required.
Fiscal Note
An Act To Improve Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care by Providing Care in Clinical 
Reproductive and Sexual Health Care Settings
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
LR3033(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1