Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Barners to Achievmg Behavioral Health Integration and Parity
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1304
Committee Amendment CA_A_H220 (House)

CO1\.1MITTEE A1vlENDMENT " A" to HP 829, L D 1304, "Resolve, to Establish 
the Task Force to Study Barners to Achievmg Behavioral Health Integration and Parity" 
Amend the resolve by stnkmg out all of section 2 and msertmg the followmg 
'Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 
members as follows 
Three members of the Senate, appomted by the President of the Senate, mcludmg a 
member from each of the 2 parties holdmg the largest number of seats m the Legislature, 
Four members of the House of Representatives, appomted by the Speaker of the 
House, mcludmg members from each of the 2 parties holdmg the largest number of seats 
m the Legislature, 
Two members representmg entitles knowledgeable about or mvolved m providmg 
behavioral health services, appomted by the President of the Senate, 
Two members who are providers of behav10ral health services and represent a small 
group practice, a federally qualified health center or a large group practice, appomted by 
the Speaker of the House, 
One member from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of 
Behavioral Health, designated by the Commiss10ner of Health and Human Services, and 
One member from the Department of Professional and Fmanc1al Regulation, Bureau 
of Insurance, designated by the Supermtendent of Insurance' 
Amend the resolve by stnkmg out all of section 5 and msertmg the followmg 
'Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall study bamers expenenced by 
providers m attemptmg to deliver behav10ral health services that are related to requtrements 
imposed by health msurance earners and the MameCare program and develop a plan, 
mcludmg specific legislative recommendat10ns, to address and remove those bamers, 
allowmg for better mtegrated care and panty m behavioral health treatment The task force 
shall also study ways to improve access to behavioral health treatment mall geographic 
Page I ~ 131LR1429(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to HP 829, L D 1304 
areas m the State and to address issues related to workforce shortages and trammg for 
providers of behavioral health services ' 
Amend the resolve by msertmg after section 7 the followmg 
'Sec. 8. Outside funding. Resolved: That the task force may seek fundmg 
contributions to partially or fully fund the costs of the study All fundmg is subJect to 
approval by the Legislative Council m accordance with its pohcies' 
Amend the resolve by relettermg or renumbermg any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the followmg changes to the Task Force to Study Barriers to 
Achievmg Behavioral Health Integrat10n and Parity 
It amends the membership to add 2 additional members who are Legislators and to 
reduce the number of members representmg other mterests 
It requrres the mclusion of a representative of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, Office of Behavioral Health 
) 
It clarifies that the task force should consider bamers related to requrrements 
tm.posed by health msurance carriers and the MameCare program 
It expands the duties of the task force to mclude studymg mcreased access to 
behavioral health treatment mall geographic areas of the State and to addressmg workforce 
and trammg issues 
It authorizes the task force to seek outside fundmg to support some or all of the costs 
of the task force 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 05/11/23 ::k?ae.. 
LD 1304, 
LR 1429(02) 
Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Barriers to Achieving Behavioral Health Integration and 
Parity 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''I\'(,~ - z..,--z_o) 
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general opeiatmg expenses of this study are projected to be $5,150 m fiscal year 2023-24 The Legislature's 
\ 
proposed budget for the 2024-2025 biennium includes $14,500 m each of fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 for the 
costs of legislative studies, as well as $2,234 m projected balances from fiscal year 2022-23 and $36,777 of balances 
earned over from pnor years for this purpose Whethei these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on 
the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature The add1t10nal costs of pt ov1dmg 
staffing assistance to the study durmg the mter1111 can be absorbed ut1hzmg ex1stmg budgeted staff resources 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Profess10nal and 
Fmancial Regulation to be part of the Task Force to Study Barners to Ach1ev111g Behav101al Health Integrat10n and 
Pauty are expected to be 1mnor and can be abs01 bed w1th111 ex1st111g budgeted resources 
LR1429(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1