ME LD1745

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to notify the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee within 2 weeks whenever a children's residential care facility closes, including details on beds, employees, services, closure reasons, and discharge plans

Directs DHHS to convene a stakeholder group of child residential treatment providers to assess short-term and long-term staffing and resource needs, with a report due by December 3, 2025

Mandates a cost analysis of children with long stays in hospital emergency departments and out-of-state placements for those with behavioral health needs or developmental disabilities, covering calendar years 2023-2024

Requires DHHS to amend MaineCare rules by December 3, 2025 to create a per-member, per-month payment model for aftercare services attempts (including travel costs) and allow staff without bachelor's degrees to deliver aftercare services with family consent

Appropriates $1,000,000 in one-time General Fund money for fiscal year 2025-26 to establish an emergency fund for children's residential care facilities at risk of closing or reducing beds