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Several bills on LTC to be heard Monday

Legislative committees are working their way through the multitude of bills that have been submitted this session.  Committees often group similar topics together on specific hearing days.  On Monday the Health and Human Services Committee will focus their attention on several bills related to long term care.  To read each bill in its entirety, you can go this webpage:     http://legislature.maine.gov/, enter the LD number, and then click on search. 
 
LD 1112, Resolve, To Classify Employee Health Insurance as a Fixed Cost for MaineCare Reimbursement in Nursing Homes - Sen. Jeff Timberlake of Androscoggin  
This bill would make health insurance coverage a fixed cost under Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes.  A similar bill was passed by a previous Legislature, but was not funded.   MHCA supports LD 1112.
 
LD 1197, Resolve, To Require Continued MaineCare Reimbursement to Nursing Facilities for Bed Hold Days during Hospitalizations and Therapeutic Leaves of Absence - Rep. Margaret Craven of Lewiston
This bill would require DHHS to restore full reimbursement for bed holds in nursing facilities.  Similar action has already been supported by both parties during their review of the Supplemental and Biennial Budgets.  MHCA supports LD 1197.
 
LD 1139, An Act To Authorize and Regulate Visitation of Essential Caregivers at Long-term Care Facilities - Rep. Laurel Libby of Auburn
This bill establishes the right of a resident of a long-term care facility to designate a person as an essential caregiver who may visit the resident, at the request of the resident, at any time and who may not be prohibited from visiting because of an outbreak of disease or other reason.  The essential caregiver would be subject to the same limitations of behavior and entry as employees of the facility.  MHCA opposes LD 1139. 
 
LD 949, Resolve, To Restore the MaineCare Nursing Facility COVID-19 Temporary Rate Increase - Sen. Joseph Baldacci of Penobscot
This bill would restore funding related to COVID-19 that was put in place by DHHS last April, but discontinued in June.  It is one of several efforts to procure funding for the extraordinary costs and lost revenue directly related to COVID-19.  MHCA supports LD 949.
 
LD 1148,   Resolve, To Increase Broadband Access in Private Nonmedical Institutions - Rep. Jay McCreight of Harpswell
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to work with providers of all levels of private nonmedical institution services to determine ways of providing no-cost broadband access to residents for medical, educational and recreational purposes.  MHCA supports LD 1148. 
 
Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, all testimony is being presented via Zoom.  For more information on these bills and how to comment, please contact

Staff Contact: rerb@mehca.org

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