Resolve, To Ensure Continued Services for Children with Disabilities by Imposing a Delay on MaineCare Rulemaking until an Impact Study Is Completed (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 2141
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MEYER, JACKSON, CRAVEN, DILLINGHAM, FARNSWORTH, FECTEAU, KORNFIELD, MOONEN, O'CONNOR, STEWART, STOVER, MILLETT

Legislative Document
No. 2141
H.P. 1529
House of Representatives, March 5, 2020
Resolve, To Ensure Continued Services for Children with 
Disabilities by Imposing a Delay on MaineCare Rulemaking until an 
Impact Study Is Completed
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MEYER of Eliot.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: CRAVEN of Lewiston, DILLINGHAM of Oxford, FARNSWORTH of 
Portland, FECTEAU of Biddeford, KORNFIELD of Bangor, MOONEN of Portland, 
O'CONNOR of Berwick, STEWART of Presque Isle, STOVER of Boothbay, Senator: 
MILLETT of Cumberland.
Sec. 1.  School-based services rulemaking delay.  Resolved:  That the 
Department of Health and Human Services and the department's office of MaineCare 
services may not adopt or proceed to adopt any rule that proposes to change rules 
governing school-based services provided under 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 101: MaineCare 
Benefits Manual until the steps set out in this section have been completed.
1.  The department shall carry out an impact study that clearly identifies, in language 
accessible for families of affected children:
A.  The rationale for any proposed rule changes;
B.  The intended and unintended effects of such changes, including but not limited to 
financial impacts on families;
C.  The financial impacts on providers of school-based services and their subsequent 
ability and capacity to provide the services;
D.  An assessment of the consequences for children with disabilities of any reduction, 
delay or denial of service for children who are receiving or anticipated to receive 
medically necessary school-based services, including an examination of scientifically 
sound research literature about the short-term and long-term benefits of early 
intervention programs, the features associated with effective programs and the 
economic gains that accrue from investing resources in early childhood interventions;
E.  Best practices for applied behavior analysis and best practices for early 
intervention services for children with a range of common disabilities; and
F.  Clarification of federal and state law regarding limiting medically necessary 
treatment services for children to services that are recommended in the individualized 
education plan.
In carrying out the study, the department shall seek and consider input from affected 
provider groups; schools, including developmental preschools and prekindergartens; 
school systems; children and family advocacy groups; the Department of Education; the 
Child Development Services System; and other stakeholders.
The department shall incorporate into the study the recommendations and implementation 
plan for early intervention services in public schools contained in the final report due 
December 1, 2020 of the independent review of the State's early childhood special 
education services being carried out pursuant to Public Law 2019, chapter 343, Part 
VVVV.
2.  The department shall submit the completed impact study and a further report, 
made by the department, regarding any proposed rules or modifications to current rule 
pertaining to medically necessary school-based services to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later 
than April 1, 2021.  The joint standing committee may report out legislation relating to 
the subject matter of the study and the further report for presentation to the First Regular 
Session of the 130th Legislature.
Sec. 2.  Initiation of rulemaking; major substantive rules.  Resolved:  That, 
following submission of the department's study under section 1 and report regarding any 
proposed rules or modifications to current rule pertaining to medically necessary school-
based services pursuant to section 1, subsection 2 but no earlier than July 1, 2021, the 
Department of Health and Human Services may initiate rulemaking to change rules 
governing school-based services provided under 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 101: MaineCare 
Benefits Manual.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This resolve imposes a delay on the adoption by the Department of Health and 
Human Services of any rule that proposes to change provisions of 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 
101: MaineCare Benefits Manual governing school-based services.
It requires the department, before initiating rulemaking, to complete an impact study 
setting forth the rationale for the proposed changes, the financial impacts on affected 
families and providers of school-based services, potential service delays and other issues 
relating to state and federal law.  The department is required to seek and consider input 
from affected provider groups, schools, children and family advocacy groups, the 
Department of Education, the Child Development Services System and other stakeholders 
and is also required to incorporate into the study the recommendations and 
implementation plan for early intervention services in public schools that will be 
forthcoming from the review of the State's early childhood special education services 
being carried out pursuant to Public Law 2019, chapter 343, Part VVVV. This report, 
produced by an independent entity, is due to be completed on December 1, 2020.
It requires the department to submit the completed study and a further report 
regarding any proposed rules or modifications to current rule pertaining to medically 
necessary school-based services to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than April 1, 2021.  The joint 
standing committee is authorized to report out legislation relating to the subject matter of 
the study and the report to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
It authorizes the department, following completion of its study and report but no 
earlier than July 1, 2021, to initiate rulemaking to change rules governing school-based 
services provided under 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual and 
specifies that any rules adopted are major substantive rules pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.