ME LD1489

Department of Health and Human Services must immediately recalculate MaineCare reimbursement rates for residential care facilities to include a cost-of-living adjustment, applied retroactively to January 1, 2025

Inflation adjustment must be based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for medical care services from the prior December

Department must conduct a rate study and implement new rates for residential care facility services by January 1, 2026

Providers are protected from sudden reimbursement decreases: no rate decrease in year one of the new methodology, maximum 5% decrease in year two, and maximum 10% decrease in year three

Designated as emergency legislation, taking effect immediately upon approval rather than after the standard 90-day waiting period