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In December of last year, MaineCare announced the Post Incarceration Incentive Payment Pilot. Please refer to our previous notice for additional information on this Incentive Payment Pilot and how to be eligible for the incentive payment. To date, over 46 organizations have qualified, and the Department has paid more than $50,000 in incentive payments for eligible claims.
The adopted rule updates Section 444-12 based on a legislative change to 22 M.R.S. § 3104(16) made by P.L. 2024, ch. 501. The adopted rule change aligns Maine law with the Code of Federal Regulations as it relates to disqualifications based on gambling or lottery winnings. Applying one standard instead of two clarifies requirements for recipients and the Department without having an adverse impact on program integrity.
In addition, the Department determined it necessary to make non-substantial changes in FS 444-12 for consistency within the rule. These changes include:
The Department proposes rule changes to the MaineCare Eligibility Manual, Part 2, Basic Eligibility Criteria consistent with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ “2023 Streamlining Medicare Savings Program Enrollment” final rule (89 FR 22780). The proposed rule removes the requirement that applicants apply for other benefits as a condition of MaineCare eligibility.
The adopted rule effectuates the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) increases in the MaineCare Eligibility Manual, Part 8, Medicare Savings Program (Buy-In) and are based on a legislative change to 22 M.R.S. § 3174-LLL made by P.L. 2023, ch. 412. Part 8, Section 4.1(I)(B) increases the FPL to 185% from 150% FPL. Part 8, Section 4.2 adds “The rules in this Section apply through June 30, 2024.”
The adopted rule updated the MaineCare Eligibility Manual, Part 16, Section 4.6 consistent with amendments made by Resolves 2023, Ch. 34, Resolve to Update Allowable Limits on Mortuary Trusts for the Purposes of MaineCare Eligibility.
The adopted rule increased the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 300% from 208% of the FPL for all children. The adopted rule aligns the MaineCare Eligibility Manual with a legislative change to 22 M.R.S. § 3174-G(B) made by P.L. 2024 ch. 597, §5. The adopted rule is anticipated to increase access to health insurance coverage.
The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage. This website keeps the rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes. The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website.
Maine people and visitors urged to protect themselves given elevated mosquito activity
The Health Alert Network notice issued on April 19, 2024, describes the current situation in the state and recommends quarterly testing for certain people. These Fast Facts for Providers on HIV Screening summarize testing recommendations.