The Alliance is pleased to see the terms of the settlement agreement between the Department of Justice and the state of Maine, which addresses many of the issues in our children’s behavioral health system that providers have raised concerns about for years. We are hopeful that the provisions outlined in the settlement will lead to greater access to critically needed community behavioral health services for children and their families statewide.
We also respectfully urge the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to take seriously the responsibility of collaborating with community behavioral health providers who intimately understand the workforce and reimbursement challenges that must be addressed to meaningfully meet the requirements of this settlement.
This vital work cannot be delayed. It requires extensive collaboration and a long-term commitment to both existing and new investments in our behavioral health system, encompassing community and residential settings for a full continuum of care. Deliberate strategies to rebuild our workforce, continued commitments to rate reform and cost-of-living adjustments, and the implementation of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) with fidelity must be essential components of any successful approach for the settlement’s implementation.
For too long, children in Maine with behavioral health needs and their families have struggled to find assistance. Workforce shortages, reimbursement challenges, and increasing demand have exacerbated this issue, leaving countless children stuck in emergency departments or sent out-of-state, unable to access the appropriate level of care. This settlement agreement representants an important step forward and a welcome opportunity to support our children in Maine. The Alliance and our member agencies are prepared to work closely with DHHS in the months and years ahead to take actionable steps that ensure children and families receive the critical supports and services they need in their homes and communities.