Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement for Providing Inpatient Care to Individuals with Acute Mental Health Care Needs
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1470
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MEYER, FECTEAU, HYMANSON, O'CONNOR, TUTTLE, WOODSOME

Legislative Document
No. 1470
H.P. 1086
House of Representatives, April 12, 2021
Resolve, Regarding Reimbursement for Providing Inpatient Care to 
Individuals with Acute Mental Health Care Needs
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 8, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on Health 
and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MEYER of Eliot.
Cosponsored by Representatives: Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, HYMANSON of York, 
O'CONNOR of Berwick, TUTTLE of Sanford, Senator: WOODSOME of York.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to increase MaineCare 
rates.  Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its 
rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 45.03 to provide 
reimbursement for patients discharged from Southern Maine Health Care's psychiatric 
inpatient unit in the amount of $10,166 per distinct discharge.  The department shall amend 
its rule pursuant to this section in time to be submitted to the United States Department of 
Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with an effective 
date of the reimbursement required by this section of January 1, 2021.
Sec. 2.  Department of Health and Human Services to seek available funds 
for uninsured patients.  Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall seek and apply for available federal funds or funds from any other sources to pay the 
costs of providing inpatient psychiatric care to uninsured patients who are discharged from 
acute care hospitals.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved: That, no later than December 1, 2021, the Department 
of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services regarding the progress the department has made in developing 
a reimbursement rate to provide inpatient psychiatric care under its rule Chapter 101: 
MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 45.03.  The joint standing committee is 
authorized to report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 130th Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rule 
Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 45.03 to provide 
reimbursement for patients discharged from Southern Maine Health Care's psychiatric 
inpatient unit in the amount of $10,166 per distinct discharge; the amended rule must be 
submitted to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services in time for the increased rate of reimbursement to apply 
from January 1, 2021.
The resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to seek and apply 
for federal funds and funds from any other sources to pay the costs of providing psychiatric 
services to uninsured patients.  It also directs the department to submit a report to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services regarding the progress the department 
has made in developing a reimbursement rate to provide inpatient psychiatric care under 
its rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 45.03.  The 
committee is authorized to report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular 
Session of the 130th Legislature.