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: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: McCREIGHT, GRATWICK, HEAD, HYMANSON, KORNFIELD, PERRY, SCHNECK, STOVER, TEPLER, MOORE

Legislative Document
No. 1228
H.P. 889
House of Representatives, March 14, 2019
Resolve, Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services 
To Create a Limited Benefit MaineCare Card for Individuals 
Eligible for the Medicare Savings Program
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative McCREIGHT of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator GRATWICK of Penobscot and
Representatives: HEAD of Bethel, HYMANSON of York, KORNFIELD of Bangor, PERRY 
of Calais, SCHNECK of Bangor, STOVER of Boothbay, TEPLER of Topsham, Senator: 
MOORE of Washington.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to create a limited 
benefit MaineCare card.  Resolved:  That, no later than January 1, 2020, the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall create a limited benefit MaineCare card 
for individuals who qualify for the Medicare Savings Program.  If the department 
determines that an individual is eligible for the Medicare Savings Program, also known as 
the Medicare Buy-in Program, as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, a Specified Low-
income Medicare Beneficiary or a Qualifying Individual, the department shall issue the 
limited benefit MaineCare card to the individual for use with providers of services, 
including but not limited to pharmacies, medical providers, hospitals, primary care 
providers and behavioral health providers, referred to in this resolve as "the providers."  
The card serves as notification to providers that the cardholder is eligible for the 
Medicare Savings Program.  The department shall monitor the implementation of the 
limited benefit MaineCare card to assess the ease of use for both the cardholder and the 
providers.
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 the implementation of the limited 
benefit MaineCare card under section 1 and including data regarding the ease of use by 
cardholders and providers for the first full year.  The report must be submitted by 
February 1, 2021.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create a new 
limited benefit MaineCare card for individuals who qualify for the Medicare Savings 
Program, also known as the Medicare Buy-in Program.  The department must issue the 
card to qualified individuals for use at pharmacies and providers of medical, behavioral 
health and other services.  The department must assess the ease of use of the card to 
cardholders and providers of services and submit a report regarding the limited benefit 
MaineCare card to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters by February 1, 2021.