Resolve, Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services To Create a Limited Benefit MaineCare Card for Individuals Eligible for the Medicare Savings Program
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1228
Committee Amendment CA_A_H367 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "~ " to H.P. 889, L.D. 1228, "Resolve, Requiring 
the Department of Health and Human Services To Create a Limited Benefit MaineCare 
Card for Individuals Eligible for the Medicare Savings Program" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services To Develop 
More Comprehensible MaineCare Benefit Letters' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to develop more 
comprehensible MaineCare benefit letters. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services shall examine the letters the department sends notifying 
individuals of their eligibility for MaineCare and the Medicare savings program, also 
lmown as the Medicare buy-in program, and make changes to the letters to ensure the 
format and language of the letters are as user-friendly and comprehensible as possible. 
The department shall investigate the possibility of a letter that includes a tear-off or cut-
out section for use as proof of eligibility for persons eligible for the Medicare savings 
program to carry if they do not otherwise receive a card from the department for this 
purpose. Any changes to the letters and proof of eligibility section must be made within 
existing resources. 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters describing any changes to the letters and cards 
pursuant to section 1. The report must be submitted by February 1, 2021.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 889, L.D. 1228 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the resolve. It requires the Department of Health and 
Human Services to examine the letters the department sends notifying individuals of their 
eligibility for MaineCare and the Medicare savings program, also known as the Medicare 
buy-in program, and make changes to the letters to ensure the format and language of the 
letters are as user-friendly and comprehensible as possible. 
The department shall 
investigate the possibility of a letter that includes a tear-off or cut-out section for use as 
proof of eligibility for persons eligible for the Medicare savings program to carry if they 
do not otherwise receive a card from the department for this purpose. Any changes must 
be made within existing resources. The department shall report any changes to the letters 
and cards to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters by February 1, 2021. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/18/19 ;:Wae.. 
LO 1228 
LR 1199(02) 
Resolve, Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services To Create a Limited Benefit 
MaineCare Card for Individuals Eligible for the Medicare Savings Program 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment~( H-Jfo 1) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
The resolve requires the Department of Health and Human services to examine the Medicare Savings Program letters 
for clarity and usefulness and to look into the possibility of a letter that includes a tear off or cut out section for use as 
proof of benefit. It is possible that using a tear off form would cost the department more than the current letter format. 
This bill provides no new funding. The impact of this potential new unfunded cost on other programs in the DHHS 
cannot be determined at this time. 
LRl 199(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1