An Act to Increase the Provision of Children's Behavioral Health Services in Rural Areas and to Provide Support for Families of Children Receiving Services
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1236
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MADIGAN, GROHOSKI, GRAMLICH, PERRY, RISEMAN
Amends: 22 MRSA §4041

Legislative Document
No. 1236
H.P. 784
House of Representatives, March 21, 2023
An Act to Increase the Provision of Children's Behavioral Health 
Services in Rural Areas and to Provide Support for Families of 
Children Receiving Services
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock and
Representatives: GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, PERRY of Calais, RISEMAN of 
Harrison.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §4041, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Family team meetings.  The department shall convene a meeting, facilitated by a 
neutral party, with all parents, the guardian ad litem of the child, providers of behavioral 
health services to the child, the child when appropriate, the caseworker, the caseworker's 
supervisor and any other interested party in the following circumstances:
A.  Prior to filing a preliminary protection order pursuant to section 4034;
B.  For families determined at risk and engaged in prevention service family plans 
developed by the department; and
C.  To evaluate efforts and progress made on achieving the elements of a rehabilitation 
and reunification plan under subsection 1-A, paragraph A, subparagraph (1), division 
(c).
Sec. 2.  Department of Health and Human Services to increase availability 
of children's behavioral health services in rural areas.  The Department of Health 
and Human Services, referred to in this section as "the department," shall increase the 
availability of children's behavioral health services for families involved in the child 
welfare system.  The department shall do the following. 
1.  No later than January 1, 2024, the department shall amend its rules in Chapter 101:  
MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Sections 28 and 65 to establish reimbursement 
rates for providers of behavioral health services to children in families in rural areas 
involved in the child welfare system.  The rural reimbursement rate must be sufficient to 
allow for the additional travel time required to serve children in rural areas.
2.  The department shall offer grants or other incentives to children's behavioral health 
providers to expand programs into rural areas and serve children in families involved in the 
child welfare system.
3.  The department shall establish a method of reimbursing providers of services to 
families involved in the child welfare system to meet together and coordinate services for 
each family.
Sec. 3.  Family team meetings.  The Department of Health and Human Services 
shall fully implement the family team meetings plan that is established in the Maine Family 
First Prevention Services State Plan.  The department shall develop training for child 
welfare staff to act as neutral facilitators.  The department shall ensure that all providers of 
services to families involved in the child welfare system participate in family team 
meetings.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to expand children's 
behavioral health services for children in families involved in the child welfare system in 
rural areas.  It requires the department to amend its rule in Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits 
Manual, Chapter III, Sections 28 and 65 to establish a rural reimbursement rate that 
includes travel time for providers to rural areas to provide services.  It requires the 
department to offer grants or other incentives to existing providers to expand services into 
rural areas.  It also requires the department to reimburse providers of services to families 
to meet together and coordinate services for each family.  The bill also requires the 
department to fully implement the family team meetings plan that is in the Maine Family 
First Prevention Services State Plan.  It requires the department to train and provide neutral 
facilitators from child welfare staff for family team meetings.