AUGUSTA — A legislative committee voted Thursday to move forward with a bill that would seek a moratorium on rule changes that could cut millions of dollars to agencies that provide services to children with autism and their families. The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-5 along party lines to block a Maine […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Hundreds pack hearing on proposed mental health care changes
AUGUSTA — More than 300 people from across Maine came to the State House on Friday to decry changes proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services for Mainers with severe mental illnesses. The hearing before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee was broadcast in a total of five committee rooms in the […]
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Legislators want to review new DHHS rules on mental services
The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee plans to review proposed rule changes from the LePage administration that providers say would cut services for thousands of Mainers with mental illnesses. Those rules aren’t typically reviewable by the Legislature, but affected individuals used a provision allowing them to petition the committee for review and got the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Mental health service providers concerned about proposed MaineCare rate changes
AUGUSTA — Providers of mental health services are facing major changes in how much they are paid for services they offer to thousands of mentally ill Mainers who rely on publicly funded MaineCare health insurance. Preliminary proposals by a consultant hired by the Department of Health and Human Services to examine its rate structure include […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Two Riverview administrators resign
AUGUSTA — Two key leaders at Riverview Psychiatric Center have resigned, according to Daniel Wathen, the courtmaster who oversees the state-run mental hospital in Augusta. Riverview Superintendent Robert “Jay” Harper has notified state officials that he will leave his position in the coming weeks for personal reasons, according to Wathen. In addition, Riverview Clinical Director […]
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DHHS tightens coverage of services for mental illness and disorders
AUGUSTA — Providers of mental health and adult disability services are scrambling to understand pending changes from the Department of Health and Human Services that could cut or interrupt services for thousands of consumers and change payments for service providers. According to multiple sources in the mental health service provider sector, the issue came to […]
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Advocates to state: Get the lead out, quickly impose new standards
AUGUSTA — A new state lead-poisoning standard passed into law in 2015 is sitting in limbo, according to lawmakers and advocates who say Maine should move quickly on the change to better protect children from exposure to the neurotoxin. The change, based on legislation sponsored by Sen. Amy Volk, R-Scarborough, and Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, would […]
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Mental health advocates slam Riverview plan
AUGUSTA — A proposal from Gov. Paul LePage to place violent patients with mental illnesses at the Maine State Prison ran into stiff resistance after its Monday roll-out. Jenna Mehnert, the executive director of NAMI Maine, condemned the plan in harsh terms, saying the group was “flabbergasted,” “shocked” and “horrified” at the plan, which she […]
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Health care advocates sue DHHS over plans to nix ombudsman
AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is being sued over a decision to end ombudsman services through the state Medicaid program. Consumers for Affordable Health Care filed the lawsuit last week. Executive Director Emily Brostek says Mainers need the ombudsman program to help them navigate the health care system to ensure […]
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Group says DHHS misinterprets General Assistance for immigrants
AUGUSTA — New rules proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services for the disbursement of General Assistance to immigrants and asylum seekers defy the intent of a law enacted earlier this year, according to numerous speakers who testified against the rules Thursday at the State House complex. The proposed rules are the latest […]