MaineCare Benefits Manual, Sections Subject to Annual July Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

Date posted:

Attachment(s):

Notice of MaineCare Reimbursement Methodology Change

AGENCY:  Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services

SERVICES INCLUDED:  Chapter 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Sections Subject to Annual July Cost-Of-Living Adjustments

NATURE OF PROPOSED CHANGES: The Department plans to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) equal to 8.24% for the following sections effective July 1, 2023.

  • Section 23: Developmental and Behavioral Clinic Services
  • Section 25: Dental Services and Reimbursement
  • Section 30: Family Planning Agency Services
  • Section 40: Home Health Services
  • Section 91: Health Home Services - Community Care Teams
  • Section 97: Private Non-Medical Institution – Appendix B, Residential Substance Use Disorder Services
  • Section 97: Private Non-Medical Institution – Appendix D, Children’s Residential Care Services
  • Section 102: Rehabilitative Services

Each July 1 thereafter the Department will apply an annual COLA proportional to the percentage increase in the Maine minimum wage, as determined by the Maine Department of Labor, so long as the service has not received any other adjustments within the previous twelve months. The Maine Department of Labor determines the percentage increase, if any, as of August of the previous year over the level as of August of the year preceding that year in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the amount of the minimum wage increase rounded to the nearest multiple of 5¢.

REASON FOR PROPOSED CHANGES: All changes are pursuant to P.L. 2021 Ch. 639, An Act to Codify MaineCare Rate System Reform.

ESTIMATE OF ANY EXPECTED INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ANNUAL AGGREGATE EXPENDITURES: The Department anticipates that this change will result in an increase of $1,945,793 in federal fiscal year 2023 which includes $1,296,194 in federal funds and $649,599 in state funds, and will cost $7,783,174 in federal fiscal year 2024 which includes $5,005,999 in federal funds and $2,777,175 in state funds.

ACCESS TO PROPOSED CHANGES AND COMMENTS TO PROPOSED CHANGES:  The public may review the proposed methodology changes and written comments at any Maine DHHS office in every Maine county. To find out where the Maine DHHS offices are located, call 1-800-452-1926. The Department will hold a hearing for the proposed rulemaking and will be publishing a notice which includes information on the hearing date and location.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR RECEIPT OF COMMENTS:   Kristin Merrill  

                                                                             Kristin.Merrill@maine.gov

AGENCY NAME:                                                Office of MaineCare Services

ADDRESS:                                                         109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station

                                                                             Augusta, Maine 04333-0011

TELEPHONE:                                                     (207) 624-4006 FAX: (207) 287-6106

                                                                            TTY: 711 Maine Relay (Deaf or Hard of Hearing)

 

See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for rules and related rulemaking documents.

State Plan Amendment

Office: MaineCare Services

Email: Kristin.Merrill@maine.gov

Comment deadline:

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