Resolve, To Ensure the Health and Wellness of Older Residents of the State
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0474
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PIERCE, BELLOWS, GRATWICK, MOORE, HUBBELL

Legislative Document
No. 474
S.P. 138
In Senate, January 29, 2019
Resolve, To Ensure the Health and Wellness of Older Residents of 
the State
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator SANBORN, L. of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative PIERCE of Falmouth and
Senators: BELLOWS of Kennebec, GRATWICK of Penobscot, MOORE of Washington, 
Representative: HUBBELL of Bar Harbor.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to seek waiver.  
Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a request to 
the United States Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements for an asset test 
for determining the eligibility of any household under the federal supplemental nutrition 
assistance program when the household includes an individual who is 60 years of age or 
older.
Sec. 2.  Home-delivered meals pilot project.  Resolved:  That, no later than 
January 1, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit an 
application to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services to request a demonstration waiver under the federal 
Social Security Act, Section 1115 to develop a 2-year pilot project pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22-A, section 203, subsection 5 to provide home-delivered meals 
to individuals who are 60 years of age or older and who are homebound or at risk for 
readmission to a health care facility.  The program under the waiver is limited to 
individuals being released from a health care facility at high risk of readmission and have 
received a doctor's recommendation that medically tailored food and nutrition 
interventions are necessary for the patient's health. Patients being offered medically 
tailored food and nutrition interventions may receive one meal per day for up to 14 days. 
The Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a report no later than July 1, 
2022 on the results of the pilot project, including, but not limited to, the number of 
individuals served by the pilot project; the number of home-delivered meals provided; 
health care facility readmission rates of those served; and recommendations for 
continuing the pilot project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot project.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  Resolved:  That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147
Initiative: Provides funds for reimbursement for 2 weeks of medically tailored food and 
nutrition interventions for certain individuals at high risk of readmission to a health care 
facility.
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$20,365
$27,153
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$20,365
$27,153
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$36,744
$48,992
Office of Aging and Disability Services Central Office 0140
Initiative: Provides funding to eliminate the waiting list for home-delivered meals to 
homebound individuals who are over 60 years of age who cannot prepare meals and do 
not have others available to prepare meals for them.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to request the United 
States Department of Agriculture to waive the asset test for determining the eligibility for 
the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program of any household in which there is 
an individual who is 60 years of age or older. It also directs the department to develop a 
pilot project to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are 60 years of age or 
older and who are homebound or at risk for readmission to a health care facility.  It 
requires the department to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot 
project. The bill also provides funding to eliminate the waiting list for home-delivered 
meals to homebound individuals who are over 60 years of age who cannot prepare meals 
and do not have others available to prepare meals for them.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
$36,744
$48,992
GENERAL FUND
2019-20
2020-21
All Other
$500,000
$500,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$500,000
$500,000
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2019-20
2020-21
GENERAL FUND
$520,365
$527,153
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
$36,744
$48,992
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$557,109
$576,145