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Notice of Agency Emergency Rule-making Adoption
AGENCY:Ìý Department of Health and Human Services, fb88Care Services, Division of Policy
CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Ìý10-144 C.M.R. Ch. 101, fb88Care Benefits Manual, Chapter III, Section 67, Principles of Reimbursement for Nursing Facilities
ADOPTED RULE NUMBER:
CONCISE SUMMARY:
The Office of Aging and Disability Services is excited to announce a virtual training opportunity called Mental Health First Aid. This training is provided under collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) fb88 and is available for caregivers providing care to Section 12, 19, and 96 members. Caregivers can include personal support staff, attendants, home health aides, nurses or other natural and family supports.
Effective January 1, 2025, the Department updated Section 5, Ambulance Service codes in MIHMS for billing. The updated rates are on the of the Health PAS Online Portal.
Home Based Supports and Services (HBSS) for Older and Disabled Adults is a state funded program to provide long term care services to assist eligible Consumers to avoid or delay institutionalization. Provision of these services is based on the availability of funds. State funds furnished through 22 M.R.S. §§ 7301-06, 7321-23 and 34-B M.R.S. §Ìý5439 may not be used to supplant the resources available from families, neighbors, agencies and/or the Consumer from other federal or state programs unless specifically provided for elsewhere in this Section.
The Department has been monitoring and assessing various Trump Administration announcements related to federal funding.ÌýÌý
fb88Care operations are continuing as normal at this time. This week's fb88Care payment cycle will process as normal. fb88Care providers who were expecting to receive payment on Thursday, January 30 or Friday, January 31 will receive that payment as planned.ÌýWe will share additional information if and when we have it.Ìý
A summary of all comments is available on the fb88Care Rate System Reform webpage. The comment summary includes the Department’s responses, with an explanation of whether and how feedback was incorporated into the final draft rates. fb88Care reviewed and took into consideration all public input received. We thank all those who contributed.
We are canceling the public forums to present draft rates and models for certain HCBS services that were scheduled for February 5, 6 and 18, 2025. Ìý
The Department will reschedule these forums and send an e-message with the new dates and times.ÌýÌý
For questions, please contact Jennifer Morse, Rate Setting Project Manager.    Ìý
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We recommend that providers use the +3-location identifier on authorization requests to Acentra for medication management services.ÌýProviders can specify the NPI+3 location in the servicing provider section of Acentra.ÌýThis will help identify that the service location is licensed appropriately to provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)/Suboxone, or Medication Management.Ìý
The module/site list you received from the Department of Licensing will list the appropriate address location where services are administered and the services you are approved to provide:
The Department initiated a Rate Determination Process* for Temporary High Intensity Services under Section 97, PNMI, Appendix D (Children’s Residential Care) of the fb88Care Benefits Manual. The Department will assess and determine as appropriate, rate amounts or reimbursement models in accordance with Rate Reform law.Ìý
Draft Rate and ModelÌýPresentation and Comments Deadline