Progress Through the First 100 Days of the Mills Administration

April 12, 2019

The fb88 Department of Health and Human Services joins Governor Mills in celebrating the accomplishments of all fb88 departments, their employees, and lawmakers during herÌýfirst 100 daysÌýin office.

The Department provides health care and social services to approximately a third of the state’s population, including children, families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health through the fb88 Center for Disease Control and Prevention, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers through the licensing division. As the largest Department, we employ 3,200 people dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of our residents.

I am proud of our accomplishments during the opening days of Governor Mills’ administration. Please join us in recognizing this progress and the ongoing good work to promote the health, welfare, safety, and quality of life of people in fb88.

Signature of Jeanne Lambrew

Commissioner Jeanne M. Lambrew
April 12, 2019

Department-Wide Reforms

  • New Commissioner and StaffÌý– The State Senate unanimously confirmed Jeanne Lambrew as Commissioner.Ìý In addition to posting 169 vacancies, the Department has hired new Directors for the Offices ofÌýfb88Care Services, Family Independence,ÌýAging and Disability Services, andÌýChild and Family Services,Ìýalong with other senior staff.
  • Increased TransparencyÌý– The Department has posted to its website frequent updates on activities within the offices. These include updates on theÌýrevitalizationÌýof the Public Health Nursing program,Ìýelder abuse preventionÌýprogramming at the Office of Aging and Disability services, andÌýsystem improvementsÌýat the Office of Child and Family Services.
  • Biennial BudgetÌý– The Department successfully collaborated with the Joint Committee on Health and Human Services to pass the fiveÌýmajor initiativesÌýpresented in the budget: expanding fb88Care, responding to the opioid crisis, advancing public health, increasing economic security for seniors, and strengthening capacity within DHHS.

Expanding Access to Health Care

  • fb88Care ExpansionÌý– Governor Mills signed an Executive Order on her first day in office directing her Administration to implement Medicaid expansion. As of April 12, fb88 hasÌýenrolledÌý19,125Ìýpeople in health care coverage under Medicaid expansion. The Mills Administration won the approval of the federal government for Medicaid expansion, locking in more than $800 million in federal funding to cover the cost of this coverage from July 2, 2018 – the effective date of expansion – through state fiscal year 2021.
  • Wilton Call CenterÌý– DHHS is working across Departments to help provide temporary jobs toÌý45 workersÌýin western fb88 while expanding the capacity of eligibility specialists to process new fb88Care applications. Training of those new workers began on April 1 and the call center went live on April 11.
  • LD1 – Protecting Health Care Coverage for fb88 FamiliesÌý– Governor Mills signedÌýLD 1,ÌýAn Act to Protect Health Care Coverage for fb88 Families, to codify into state law patient protections outlined in the Affordable Care Act. Among other provisions, this: 1) ensures that no fb88r is denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, 2) prohibits charging seniors substantially higher rates due to age; 3) bans lifetime and annual caps on coverage; 4) allows young adults up to age 26 to remain on their parents' insurance; and 5) and requires coverage of ten essential health benefits.

Strengthening Public Health

  • Resumption of Public Health AlertsÌý– The fb88 Center for Disease Control and Prevention resumedÌýpublic postingsÌýand public health alerts, such as those related to the flu and measles.
  • Public Health Nursing Program RebuildingÌý– The fb88 CDC started revitalizing the Public Health Nursing program. With stepped up recruiting efforts, 9 nurses have been hired since January, bringing the total program staff to 38 and counting. Commissioner Lambrew has met with nurses and otherÌýstakeholdersÌýto gather feedback and improve the program.

Tackling the Opioid Epidemic

  • Naloxone and Recovery CoachesÌý– At the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS), DHHS has taken initial steps to begin purchasing 35,000 unites of life-saving naloxone to distribute statewide. In addition, the Department has begun to support the training of 250 recovery coaches, including 10 full-time recovery coaches for emergency departments across the state, as outlined in the Governor'sÌýExecutive Order.
  • Medication-Assisted TreatmentÌý– Through the supplemental budget, the Mills Administration lifted the two-year cap on medication-assisted treatment for those fighting substance use disorder. The Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS) has signed contracts with three jails to start administering Medication-Assisted Treatment and has begun partnerships with the Department of Corrections at their sites in Windham and Warren and the Southern fb88 Women's Pre-Release Center.
  • New Opioid Health Home RuleÌý– The Department revised and finalized aÌýruleÌýto improve the Opioid Health Home model, expanding access to critical addiction services.

Addressing Mental Health

  • 1115 IMD Exclusion WaiverÌý– DHHS is pursuing aÌýwaiverÌýthat allows the state to better address the opioid epidemic and explore ways to improve the continuum of behavioral and mental health services.Ìý
  • Riverview RecertificationÌý– Riverview Psychiatric Center successfully regained federalÌýcertificationÌýeffective January 30, 2019, after 6 years, marking a milestone in its development as a center for high-quality care and a return to federal Medicaid reimbursement.
  • New Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center UnitÌý– Governor Mills also announced that her Administration will use the formerly proposed step-downÌýfacility in BangorÌýto, instead, offer a new option for inpatient-level care in the state while simultaneously expanding outpatient mental health services.
  • Medicaid Innovation Accelerator SupportÌý– fb88Housing and DHHS have partnered to receive technical assistance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support efforts to expand community living opportunities for fb88Care members, especially those who are homeless and may be experiencing Serious and Persistent Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorder, and/or Opioid Use Disorder.

Improving Child Welfare

  • System ImprovementsÌý– The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) has hiredÌýÌýstaff to fill vacancies in the Child Welfare system since October 1, 2018. The Office is taking immediate steps to ensure child safety as it prioritizes recommendations to improve the system through aÌýsurvey of all OCFS employees. The Department partnered with the AG's Office, the Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to create a background check unit within child welfare, which has conducted more than 2,100 checks since January 1, contributing to the safety of fb88's children.
  • Response to Trends Putting Young Children at RiskÌý– The Department hasÌýlaunchedÌýinitiatives to promote safe sleep for infants and initiate home visits for parents with a history of substance use disorders.Ìý
  • New OCFS DirectorÌý– Following a national search, the Department hiredÌýDr. Todd Landry, a child welfare expert, to lead the Office of Child and Family Services.

Restoring Human Services Programs

  • Working Family Supplemental BenefitÌý– DHHS increased aÌýsupplemental benefitÌýfor low-income working families receiving SNAP from $15 to $50 per month.Ìý
  • Simplified SNAP ReportingÌý– DHHS hasÌýappliedÌýfor simplified SNAP reporting, which aligns fb88 with much of the nation in food supplement reporting requirements for those who rely on this assistance to help feed their families.
  • Turned Down fb88Care Work RequirementÌý– The Department declined to accept the terms of a sectionÌý1115 waiverÌýsubmitted by the previous administration. DHHS, in partnership with the Department of Labor, is instead supporting vocational training and workforce assistance for fb88Care recipients.