There’s a busy week ahead in Augusta. Three issues that are critically important to our work at the Alliance have actions planned. We could use your help in contacting your local members before the work sessions. To find contact information for your legislators click here.
WORKFORCE
Two major bills about the workforce will be heard and work sessions held. The work session for both of these bills are scheduled for Wednesday, May 5 at 10:00 AM.
Paying behavioral healthcare workers a living wage is critically needed to assure access to services. When workers are under paid and under valued, providers cannot attract and retain essential workers and have to close programs or services resulting in increasing waitlists and difficulties accessing care. We must begin treating essential workers like they are truly essential.
LD #283 – Resolve, To Address Inequities for Certain Direct Care Workers
Sponsored by Representative Madigan of Waterville
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend the MaineCare Benefits Manual to increase reimbursement rates for daily living support services and any home and community-based services provided to children and adults by behavioral health professionals by 20%. The increase would bring minimum wage for essential direct care workers to 125% of minimum wage.
LD #1573 – An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues
Sponsored by Representative Fay of Raymond
This bill implements the recommendations of the Commission To Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues.
ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN IN MAINE
There will be a work session on Thursday, May 6 at 10:00 AM for this bill regarding children’s access to behavioral healthcare in Maine.
Children going through behavioral health treatment should be able to get the treatment they need in their home and home community. They should be brought home from out of state and met with adequate resources to thrive.
These bills would require the department to coordinate with families of children who are receiving treatment services for behavioral health issues outside the State and those who are on waiting lists in the state to develop for receiving required services in their state and home community.
Sponsored by Representative Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach
INCREASING ACCESS TO OUTPATIENT THERAPY
There will be a work session on Thursday, May 6 at 10:00 AM to increase the availability of outpatient therapy during the pandemic.
Outpatient treatment has always been the bedrock of mental health care and we are seeing exponential demand increase since the pandemic began. We must invest in this now.
Sponsored by Representative Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach