• Read more about Re-entry Update #13

September 15, 2022

Good afternoon,

In same way that systems didn’t crash when computers switched to January 1 in the year 2000 (remember Y2K?), work carried on at DHHS without interruption as we transitioned back to offices last week. In fact, from the comments heard in the hallways, re-entry was more akin to the first day of a new school year. Although, we had a few adjustments, such as places with more workers than chairs and too few paper towels for a given day, we are smoothly working under the DHHS Telework Policy.

• Read more about Attention Section 21 Per Diem Home Support and Home Support – Residential Habilitation – Family Centered Support Providers – American Rescue Plan HCBS  Designated Payments

The Department will issue one-time payments next week to qualifying providers of Per Diem Home Support and Home Support – Residential Habilitation-Family Centered Support under MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM) Section 21, Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Read more about Attention Providers of Section 18, 19, 20, 21, and 29 Services: Appendix K to Maine’s Home and Community Based Waivers Continues to Provide Temporary Flexibilities on Service Caps, Staffing

Appendix K to Maine’s Home and Community-Based Services 1915(c) waivers provides the state certain flexibilities in waiver program operations during an emergency. Maine’s Appendix K and amendments may be found here. 

• Read more about Section 97 Appendix F Rate Updates, CR 112461

MaineCare has posted updated rate letters for all Section 97 Appendix F providers operating on a Fiscal Year basis to the Health PAS Online Portal. We have also posted revised rate letters for Section 97 Appendix F providers operating on a Calendar Year basis. The rates shown on rate letters are effective July 1, 2022.

• Read more about Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Events

The EVV requirement deadline for Personal Care Services (PCS) was January 1, 2021, and will be January 1, 2023, for Home Health providers delivering services under Section 40 and for Hospice Services providers delivering services under Section 43.

We are offering provider and aggregator trainings, forums, and town hall events online via Microsoft Teams. The trainings are designed to help providers and aggregators to comply with federal EVV requirements.

Training Topics

Training topics include, but are not limited to:

• Read more about Attention Providers of Sections 93, 92, 13, and 17 Services: Passthrough process now required if organizations jointly serve an Opioid Health Home Member

This is a follow-up to the e-message sent on September 2, 2022, and a correction sent on September 8, 2022, regarding the new requirement for Passthrough Payments for Opioid Health Home (OHH) services delivered by an expanded care team.

Sep 9, 2022

Federal grants complement state-funded payments for child care workers

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today that it will distribute $13.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to improve Maine families’ access to safe, affordable, and high-quality child care.

• Read more about Maine DHHS Announces $13.6 Million in New Grants to Support Maine’s Child Care Providers

• Read more about Attention MaineCare Members and Families, Healthcare Providers, Clinicians, Consumer Advocates, and Healthcare Professional Associations: CMS’ Make Your Voice Heard RFI 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Request For Information (RFI) seeking public input on accessing healthcare and related challenges, understanding provider experiences, advancing health equity, and assessing the impact of waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Through this RFI, CMS also seeks to better understand the factors impacting provider wellness and learn more about the distribution of the healthcare workforce.

• Read more about Maine Department of Health and Human Services Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Stakeholder Meeting 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is initiating a bi-monthly virtual stakeholder meeting series to gather input and inform efforts on the development of a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model in Maine. The first meeting will Monday, September 26th, 10:30am-12pm, held virtually through Zoom. 

• Read more about Attention Section 43 Hospice Providers Using the State Sandata Solution for Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) 

Hospice Functionality available in the State Sandata Solution 

Starting September 7, 2022, a new functionality has been made available for Hospice providers using the Sandata Solution. This new functionality will allow providers to create Prior Authorizations (PA) within the Sandata system. This will also allow providers to create an electronic visit record for MaineCare members who have a PA.