Chapter 113 Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule Public Hearing Scheduled for April 1st

• By: Angela Westhoff
• On: 03/27/2025 07:12:02
• In: Legislative/Government Affairs

On Tuesday, April 1^st before the Health and Human Services Committee, a public hearing will be held at 1:00 pm on LD 979, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 113: Assisted Housing Programs Licensing Rule, a Late-filed Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Health and Human Services. 

The Assisted Housing Programs rulemaking effort consists of taking 10 different sections of statutes including Assisted Living, Residential Care Facilities Levels I-IV, and Private Non-Medical Institutions (PNMI-C), and Infection Control and condenses them into two sections. The two new licensing rules are for Part A: Assisted Living Facilities and Part B: Residential Care Facilities.

There have been changes from the first set of proposed rules to the now provisionally adopted rules. These changes are based upon feedback received from commenters at the November 13^th public hearing. Most concerning for long term care providers are the increased staffing ratios. While these staffing ratios are modified and include a phase-in approach, the work force crisis and lack of any funding at all continued to present significant challenges for Maine's assisted living and residential care providers. MHCA stands strongly opposed to the rules and continues to advocate for a collaborative approach that includes meaningful input from residents, families and providers. An info session was held on March 27^th to review the rules. Providers are encouraged to testify at the April 1^st public hearing in person, via Zoom, or to submit written comments.

For more information, contact MHCA President/CEO Angela Westhoff.

Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org