An Act To Advance Palliative Care Utilization in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1064
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CRAVEN, BALDACCI, CLOUTIER, MEYER, PERRY, STOVER, CLAXTON, MOORE
Amends: 22 MRSA §1726-A, 22 MRSA §3174-F

Legislative Document
No. 1064
H.P. 793
House of Representatives, March 11, 2021
An Act To Advance Palliative Care Utilization in the State
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CRAVEN of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot and
Representatives: CLOUTIER of Lewiston, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, MEYER of Eliot, 
PERRY of Calais, STOVER of Boothbay, Senators: CLAXTON of Androscoggin, MOORE of 
Washington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §1726-A is enacted to read:
§1726-A.  Palliative care
1.  Definition.  For the purposes of this section, "palliative care" has the same meaning 
as in section 1726.
2.  Rules.  The department shall adopt rules that support and standardize the delivery 
of palliative care in the State.  The rules must include, but are not limited to, strategies for 
the distribution of public educational documents and the distribution by health care 
providers of information regarding the availability of palliative care to patients.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
3.  Stakeholders.  The department shall periodically consult with the Maine Hospice 
Council established in section 8611, the Palliative Care and Quality of Life 
Interdisciplinary Advisory Council established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 47-I 
and other stakeholders when developing educational documents and rules related to this 
section.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §3174-FFF is enacted to read:
§3174-FFF.  Palliative care reimbursement
1.  Reimbursement.  The department shall provide reimbursement under the 
MaineCare program for palliative care for the entire interdisciplinary team as appropriate 
to the plan of care, regardless of setting, including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient 
clinics and home care providers.  For the purposes of this section, "palliative care" has the 
same meaning as in section 1726.
2.  Rules.  The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.  The rules must 
include, but are not limited to, reimbursement policies and quality control measures that 
ensure and promote high-value palliative care under the MaineCare program.  Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide 
reimbursement under the MaineCare program for palliative care for the entire 
interdisciplinary team as appropriate to the plan of care, regardless of setting, including 
hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and home care providers.  It also requires the 
department to adopt rules that support and standardize the delivery of palliative care in the 
State, including but not limited to strategies for the distribution of public educational 
documents and the distribution by health care providers of information regarding the 
availability of palliative care to patients.  It also requires the department to consult with the 
Maine Hospice Council, the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Advisory 
Council and other stakeholders when developing educational documents and rules related 
to palliative care.