DHHS → node
Jan 1, 2023
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today an unprecedented increase in behavioral health investments to $237 million in federal and state funds to continue MaineCare and related payment improvements as well as make critical investments in the children’s behavioral health system and opioid response.
MaineCare has increased reimbursement rates for MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Sections 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 65 (Substance Use Disorder Intensive Out-Patient only), and 96 for services that are associated with Part AAAA of P.L. 2021, ch.398, retroactively to January 1, 2023. Providers may submit claims for the new rates and adjust any previously submitted claims to the higher rate. Please adjust your claims within 120 days of this notice.
The federal deadline to implement the EVV requirements for Home Health providers delivering services under Section 40 and Hospice providers delivering services under Section 43 happened January 1, 2023.
We continue to offer weekly provider and aggregator trainings. All trainings are online via Microsoft Teams.
NOTE: The Absorb training system has been updated to allow providers to register for trainings more than once.
Training Topics
As detailed in the January 4, 2023, and December 30, 2022, notices, the Department has posted State Plan methodology notices detailing rate increases for Sections 13, 17, 26, 28, 65, and 92 on our State Plan Methodology page. The new rates will be effective retroactive to January 1, 2023.
The Sandata Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) interface now flags all submitted Home Health certifications with an ‘active’ status and will be loaded in Sandata immediately. Some certifications were previously flagged as ‘inactive,’ which prevented them from loading and prohibited providers from creating visit records for members. This update will enable Home Health providers to create EVV visit records in a timely manner but does not guarantee MaineCare approval of the certification.
Hospice providers can indicate a claim is EVV or non-EVV related when submitting T2042 by using the following guidelines:
Revenue code 0651 and service code T2042 should be used to bill for days when there are in-person services provided in the member’s home.
MaineCare will now send notices of job opportunities periodically through our General, All Services e-message list. All positions are located in Augusta, Maine.
We are accepting applications for the following state positions:
Health Services Consultant RN (Case Mix team)
Application Deadline: January 11, 2023
Management Analyst I (Emergency Department Collaborative team)
Application Deadline: January 13, 2023
As noted in our message issued December 30, 2022, the Department has posted State Plan methodology notices detailing the rate changes for Sections 13, 17, 26, 28, 65, and 92 on our State Plan Methodology page.