We are working with our Maine legislators to create legislation that will advance our goals:
- Ensure access to quality, efficient and effective mental health and substance use services.
- Achieve positive system change in the public perception of mental health and substance use disorder.
- Support the delivery of services with a highly competent workforce.
POLICY AGENDA FOR 129TH LEGISLATURE
- Invest in Behavioral Health Workforce
- Streamline certification and licensure for behavioral health clinicians and create a targeted tax credit or loan program for underserved areas
- Review the DHHS background check mandate to make improvements, add flexibility and choice, and reduce discrimination
- Enhance Access to MaineCare Behavioral Health Services
- Establish regular Medicaid Rate Review process with oversight advisory committee
- Increases in reimbursement rates for critical MaineCare behavioral health services to enhance adequacy of the provider network and increase access to MaineCare services
- Invest in Mental Health Services
- Resolve to review the changes made to the crisis system in Maine to discern need for investment or improvement
- Enhance access to Section 17 Community Integration services based on functional need
- Invest in home and community treatment for children with behavioral health needs
- Expand MaineCare eligibility for Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) to parents/guardians to participate in appointments with their child receiving MaineCare mental health residential services
- Invest in Substance Use Treatment (SUD) Services
- Recovery Residence voluntary certification standards and housing assistance fund
- Create homeless medication assisted treatment program
- Expand access to Medication Assisted Treatment
Bills–129th Maine Legislative First Session
Click here for critical bills awaiting funding on the Appropriations Committee. We could use your help in getting them funded!!
Below are bills we have been monitoring, supporting or sharing concerns about this session:
| 1 |
An Act To Protect Health Care Coverage for Maine Families |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
40 |
Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study Children’s Mental Health |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
228 |
An Act To Expedite the Issuance of Alcohol and Drug Counseling Licenses |
High Priority |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
303 |
An Act To Require Housing Facilities for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Be Equipped with Naloxone |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
329 |
An Act To Exempt from Criminal Liability Persons Reporting a Drug-related Medical Emergency |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
615 |
An Act To Protect the Integrity of the MaineCare Program |
Strong Support |
Became law without signature |
699 |
Resolve, To Provide for Outreach Programs To Assist Women at Risk of Giving Birth to Substance-exposed Infants |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
761 |
An Act To Clarify and Affirm Medicaid Eligibility for Incarcerated Individuals |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
775 |
An Act To Expand Community Support Services for Certain Adult Members of the MaineCare Program |
High Priority |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
793 |
An Act To Improve Accountability of Opioid Manufacturers |
Support |
Became Law without Governor’s Signature (Emergency Measure) |
892 |
An Act To Eliminate the Private Nonmedical Institution Service Provider Tax for Entities That Do Not Otherwise Recover the Tax |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
934 |
Resolve, To Review the Maine Background Check Center Act Implementation and Impact |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
984 |
Resolve, To Increase Funding for Children’s Behavioral Health Issues in Order To Return to the State Children Who Are Currently Housed in Residential Treatment Systems outside of the State and To Suspend Certain Contracts Related to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities |
High Priority |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1007 |
An Act to Expand and Enhance Maine’s Behavioral Health Direct Care Workforce |
High Priority |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1009 |
An Act To Provide Protections for Maine Patients Facing StepTherapy |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1025 |
An Act To Prohibit the Provision of Conversion Therapy to Minors by Certain Licensed Professionals |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1028 |
An Act To Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use with Adequate Funding and by Raising the Tax on Tobacco Products |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1030 |
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Substance Use Disorder Services Commission |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1039 |
Resolve, To Establish and Fund Interventions for At-risk Families and Children |
High Priority |
This was done through the DHHS |
1052 |
An Act To Require Regular and Transparent Review of MaineCare Reimbursement Rates |
High Priority |
This was done through the DHHS |
1108 |
Resolve, Establishing the Task Force on Alternatives to Incarceration for Maine Youth |
Support |
This was done without legislation |
1260 |
An Act Regarding Short-term, Limited-duration Health Plans |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1263 |
An Act Regarding Telehealth |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1274 |
An Act To Enact the Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1275 |
An Act To Support Access to Health Services for Homeless Youth in Maine |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1337 |
An Act To Save Lives by Establishing a Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement Project within the Department of Health and Human Services |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1399 |
An Act To Improve Oral Health and Access to Dental Care for Maine Children |
Support |
Became Law without Governor’s Signature |
1486 |
An Act To Strengthen Supports for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism in Crisis |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1499 |
An Act To Establish the Maine Prescription Drug Affordability Board |
Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1523 |
An Act To Ensure the Quality of and Increase Access to Recovery Residences |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1526 |
An Act To Increase the Availability of Foster Homes |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1602 |
Resolve, To Develop a Mental Health Plan for the State |
Priority |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1635 |
Resolve, To Improve Access to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services for Children from Birth to 8 Years of Age |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1694 |
An Act To Amend the Mental Health Insurance Coverage Laws |
Strong Support |
Became Law Signed by Governor |
1809 |
Resolve, To Increase Funding for Evidence-based Therapies for Treating Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children |
High Priority |
Became Law without Governor’s Signature |
1838 |
“Resolve, Requiring the Department of Health and Human Services To Examine Options for Upper Payment Limit Adjustments for MaineCare Services” |
High Priority |
Became Law with Governor’s Signature |
1855 |
An Act To Include Student Absences for Mental Health or Behavioral Health Needs as Excusable Absences |
Support |
Became Law with Governor’s Signature |
1934 |
An Act Regarding the Process for Optaining Prior Authorization for Health Insurance Purposes for Medicaid Recipients |
Support |
Signed by the Governor |