Resolve, To Ensure the Health and Wellness of Older Residents of the State
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0727
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS

Legislative Document
No. 727
H.P. 538
House of Representatives, March 5, 2021
Resolve, To Ensure the Health and Wellness of Older Residents of 
the State
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 3, 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 TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Sec. 1.  Department of Health and Human Services to seek waiver.  
Resolved:  That the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a request to 
the United States Department of Agriculture to waive the requirements for an asset test for 
determining the eligibility of any household under the federal supplemental nutrition 
assistance program when the household includes an individual who is 60 years of age or 
older.
Sec. 2.  Home-delivered meals pilot project.  Resolved:  That, no later than 
January 1, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit an application 
to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services to request a demonstration waiver under the federal Social Security Act, 
Section 1115 to develop a 2-year pilot project pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
22-A, section 203, subsection 5 to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are 60 
years of age or older and who are homebound or at risk for readmission to a health care 
facility.  The pilot project under the waiver is limited to individuals being released from a 
health care facility at high risk of readmission who have received a doctor's 
recommendation that medically tailored food and nutrition interventions are necessary for 
the patient's health. Patients being offered medically tailored food and nutrition 
interventions through the pilot project may receive one meal per day for up to 14 days. The 
Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a report no later than July 1, 2024 
on the results of the pilot project, including, but not limited to, the number of individuals 
served by the pilot project; the number of home-delivered meals provided; health care 
facility readmission rates of those served; and recommendations for continuing the pilot 
project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health 
and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot project.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to request the 
United States Department of Agriculture to waive the asset test for determining the 
eligibility for the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program of any household in 
which there is an individual who is 60 years of age or older.  It also directs the department 
to develop a pilot project to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are 60 years 
of age or older and who are homebound or at risk for readmission to a health care facility.  
It requires the department to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters at the conclusion of the pilot project.