An Act To Support Maine Families by Providing for Transportation of Parents and Guardians of MaineCare Recipients under 18 Years of Age to Their Appointments
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1062
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MADIGAN, MILLETT, AUSTIN, CRAVEN, MEYER, PERRY, STOVER, TALBOT ROSS, TEPLER
Amends: 22 MRSA §3174-B

Legislative Document
No. 1062
H.P. 785
House of Representatives, March 5, 2019
An Act To Support Maine Families by Providing for Transportation 
of Parents and Guardians of MaineCare Recipients under 18 Years 
of Age to Their Appointments
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator MILLETT of Cumberland and
Representatives: AUSTIN of Skowhegan, CRAVEN of Lewiston, MEYER of Eliot, PERRY of 
Calais, STOVER of Boothbay, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, TEPLER of Topsham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §3174-BBB is enacted to read:
§3174-BBB.  Coverage for transportation of parents or guardians of MaineCare 
program recipients
1.  Transportation requirements.  The department shall provide nonemergency 
medical transportation for a parent or guardian of a MaineCare member under 18 years of 
age to and from providers of medical services when no other means of transportation is 
available to the parent or guardian in accordance with the requirements of the federal 
Medicaid program and regulations.
2.  Rulemaking.  The department shall adopt or amend rules to govern the use of 
nonemergency medical transportation as described in subsection 1.  Rules adopted or 
amended pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
3.  Emergency transportation.  This section does not apply to emergency 
transportation services.
Sec. 2.  Waivers or state plan amendments.  The Department of Health and 
Human Services shall apply for any necessary Medicaid waivers or submit any state plan 
amendments to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services to receive federal matching Medicaid funds for 
transportation of parents or guardians of Medicaid-eligible persons under 18 years of age 
to and from providers of medical services when no other means of transportation is 
available to the parents or guardians pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, 
section 3174-BBB.  In the event that no matching federal funds are available, the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall cover the costs using General Fund 
money.
SUMMARY
This bill allows nonemergency medical transportation services that are currently 
available to MaineCare members for transportation to and from providers of medical 
services to be used by parents or guardians of MaineCare members under 18 years of age 
to and from providers of medical services when no other means of transportation is 
available to the parents or guardians.  The bill also requires the Department of Health and 
Human Services to adopt or amend rules to implement this provision.  The Department of 
Health and Human Services is required to apply for any Medicaid waivers or submit any 
state plan amendments to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to receive matching funds.  In the event that 
no matching federal funds are available, the Department of Health and Human Services is 
required to cover the cost using General Fund money.