TO:	Interested Parties
FROM:	Christine Gianopoulos
DATE:	July 7, 2003
SUBJECT:	BEAS Rules Effective July 1, 2003

The Bureau of Elder and Adult Services rule amendments which took effect on July 1, 2003 make changes in Sections 40 General Administrative Requirements for All Parties; 61Adult Day Services; 62 Congregate Housing Services Program; 63 In Home and Community Based Support Services for Elderly and Other Adults; 68 Respite Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Disorders; and 69 BEAS Homemaker Services.  These are routine technical rules.  The changes include but are not limited to the following:

 

·        Section 40 clarifies notice and adds exceptions from advance notice provisions, clarifies the circumstances under which an administrative hearing may be denied, specifies exceptions to maintaining services while going through the hearing process and clarifies confidentiality requirements. 

·        Sections 61, 62, 63, 68, and 69 now have a provision allowing for services to be reduced, denied or terminated when there are insufficient funds to continue to pay for services for all current consumers.

·        Section 61 also requires providers to accept BEAS established caps for covered services and adds persons residing in assisted living to those not eligible for adult day services.

·        Section 62 also is renamed Independent Housing with Services Program (IHSP) and amended pursuant to Chapter 1664 Assisted Housing Programs, which required definitional changes.  It also includes the qualifications to be a site and establishes payment caps.

·        Section 63 also changes Voucher Option to Self-directed Option and makes it possible for a consumer in the Self-Directed Option to request assistance in arranging other than PCA services; allows for periodic rather than monthly health assessments for Levels II, III and IV; limits IADL tasks for consumers in Level I to 10 hours per month; requires family members paid as PCAs to have on-site supervisory visits by the Home Care Coordinating Agency; and clarifies suspension, waiting list and PCA training language

·        Section 69 also changes Voucher Option to Self-directed Option and clarifies the definition of chore services.

 

The adopted rules are available at the BEAS website www.maine.gov/dhs/beas/ where each section is presented as a separate document.  For those who would prefer a paper copy, please call the Bureau at 1-800-262-2232 or use the request form on the website.  Thank you.