An Act To Respond to Federal Changes to Social Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0880
Committee Amendment CA_A_H470 (House)
Committee: Health and Human Services no later than

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/J .. to H.P. 654, L.D. 880, Bill, "An Act To 
Respond to Federal Changes to Social Programs" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Regarding the Impact of Minimum Wage Increases and Paid Time Off 
Requirements on MaineCare Reimbursement Rates' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to study the impact of 
minimum wage increases and earned paid leave on MaineCare rates. 
Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall study the impact of 
increases to the minimum wage pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 26, section 
664, subsection 1 and any statutory requirements for earned paid leave on the 
reimbursement rates for all services provided under department rule Chapter 101: 
MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III. The department shall develop an assessment of 
future shortfalls in the sufficiency ofMaineCare rates related to increases in the minimum 
wage and new requirements for earned paid leave and develop a plan to ensure that 
reimbursement rates remain sufficient to cover any future increases. The department may 
consult or contract with any experts or stakeholders that the department determines 
appropriate. The department shall report its findings, together with any recommendations 
and suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services no later than March 1, 2020.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. 
It requires the 
Department of Health and Human Services to study the impact of increases in the 
minimum wage and any statutory requirements for earned paid leave on the 
reimbursement rates for all services reimbursed under the department's rule Chapter 101: 
MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III. The department is required to develop an 
assessment of future shortfalls and develop a plan to ensure that reimbursement rates 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
';> 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~ "to H.P. 654, L.D. 880 
remain sufficient to cover any future increases. The department may consult or contract 
with any experts or stakeholders that the department determines appropriate. 
The 
department shall report its findings, recommendations and suggested legislation to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than March 1, 2020. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 06/02/19 feac*-
LD880 
LR 1040(02) 
An Act To Respond to Federal Changes to Social Programs 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment iy:} {fl ..... YJO) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Current biennium cost increase - Federal Expenditures Fund 
The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to study the impact of increases in the 
minimum wage and any statutory requirements for earned paid leave on the reimbursement rates for all services 
reimbursed under the DHHS's rnle Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual Chapter III. The DHHS is required to 
develop an assessment of future shortfalls and develop a plan to ensure that reimbursement rates remain sufficient to 
cover any future increases. The DHHS may consult or contract with any experts or stakeholders that the DHHS 
dete1mines appropriate. The DHHS would see a fiscal impact as a result of contracted rate studies that may need to 
occur to fulfill the requirements of this bill. The average contract amount for a rate study is $105,000 and if all 
sections required an outside contractor the cost could be as much as $1,890,000. As it is not known which sections of 
policy will require an outside contractor and which can be done by the DHHS, no estimate of the cost for the rate 
studies can be detennined at this time. 
LRl 040(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1