Bill > LD279

This bill addresses the shortage of direct care workers for children with disabilities in Maine by creating a pathway for parents to be reimbursed for providing in-home personal care services to their own children through MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program). Under the bill, parents can register as a personal care agency if they have made reasonable but unsuccessful efforts to find regular in-home care and have passed a required background check. An important requirement is that another individual who is not a parent must be designated as the child's employer and must be approved by both the parent and the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill requires the department to seek necessary federal approvals from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and adopt supporting rules within 6 months of receiving federal approval. The legislation is designed to help families struggling to find care for children with disabilities, prevent parents from having to leave paid employment to provide care, and ensure that children receive critical in-home personal care services. The bill includes an emergency clause, indicating the urgency of addressing the direct care worker shortage, and will only take effect after receiving the required federal approvals.

Health and Social Services

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=279&snum=132