Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Amend Rules and Establish a Study Group Related to Funding and Reimbursement for Mental Health Crisis Resolution Services (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2223
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: STEWART

Legislative Document
No. 2223
S.P. 951
In Senate, February 21, 2024
Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to 
Amend Rules and Establish a Study Group Related to Funding and 
Reimbursement for Mental Health Crisis Resolution Services
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Sec. 1. Crisis resolution services reimbursement. Resolved: That the 
Department of Health and Human Services, referred to in this resolve as "the department," 
shall, by rulemaking, develop a reimbursement model for the crisis resolution services 
described in rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 65.05-1, 
Crisis Resolution Services, that is designed as an annual cost reimbursement model, not a 
per encounter basis model. The reimbursement model must be designed to fully cover the 
staffing and operational costs of any service provider covered under rule Chapter 101: 
MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 65.05-1 to operate on a 24-hours-per-day, 
7-days-per-week basis.
Sec. 2. Crisis Resolution Services System Study Group; report. Resolved: 
That the department shall establish the Crisis Resolution Services System Study Group to 
evaluate and recommend funding sources for existing and developing crisis resolution 
services as described in rule Chapter 101: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 
65.05-1, Crisis Resolution Services. Funding sources must include any combination of 
Medicaid reimbursement, General Fund appropriations and grant funding. By January 15, 
2025, the department shall submit a report of the study group's findings to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to, in its rules 
governing reimbursement for crisis resolution services, develop a reimbursement model for 
those services that is designed as an annual cost reimbursement model rather than a per 
encounter basis model. The reimbursement model must be designed to fully cover staffing 
and operational costs for crisis resolution services to operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per 
week. The services affected by this resolve are those services that are described by the 
MaineCare Benefits Manual as designed to offer immediate crisis-oriented services to an 
individual experiencing a crisis related to mental or behavioral health or social relationships 
or a crisis related to an intellectual disability, autism or related condition. Crisis resolution 
services also include services offered for co-occurring substance use conditions.
The resolve also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the 
Crisis Resolution Services System Study Group to conduct a study to evaluate and 
recommend funding sources for crisis resolution services. The department must submit a 
report of the study group's findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by January 15, 2025.