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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2023
Legislative Document No. 1856H.P. 1186 House of Representatives, May 2, 2023
Resolve, to Study the Establishment of a MaineCare Public Health
Plan
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ARFORD of Brunswick.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, COLLINGS of Portland, MASTRACCIO of
Sanford, PERRY of Calais, PRINGLE of Windham, Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland,
Senators: BAILEY of York, GROHOSKI of Hancock. Page 1 - 131LR2131(01)1 That the Office of Affordable Health Care
2 established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 3122 shall study, in consultation
3 with the Department of Health and Human Services, the options for establishing a
4 MaineCare public health plan.
5 That to the extent resources are
6 available, the Office of Affordable Health Care may solicit the services of one or more
7 outside experts to assist in the study under section 1. Upon request of the Office of
8 Affordable Health Care, the Department of Health and Human Services; the Department
9 of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance; and the Department of
10 Labor shall provide staffing assistance to complete the study.
11 That, no later than January 31, 2024, the
12 Office of Affordable Health Care shall submit a report, including suggested legislation to
13 create the MaineCare public health plan, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health
14 Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services. The Office of Affordable Health Care shall
15 include in its report recommendations regarding:
16 1. Applying for waivers, exemptions and approvals from State Government and the
17 Federal Government that are necessary to transfer health care funding from the Federal
18 Government and from any state departments and agencies to the MaineCare public health
19 plan;
20 2. Applying for waivers, exemptions and approvals from the Federal Government that
21 are necessary to establish MaineCare eligibility for all full-time residents of the State,
22 including immigrants who may not yet be United States citizens;
23 3. How to transfer to the MaineCare public health plan all state and federal funds
24 associated with programs for which the MaineCare public health plan will assume
25 responsibility;
26 4. How to offer the MaineCare public health plan through the Maine Health Insurance
27 Marketplace established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 5403, along with
28 other mechanisms of delivery;
29 5. How to offer the MaineCare public health plan through other means, including how
30 other states may be offering a Medicaid public option plan; and
31 6. Any other recommendations necessary to implement the MaineCare public health
32 plan.
33 The Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
34 may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature related
35 to the report.
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37 This resolve directs the Office of Affordable Health Care to study, in consultation with
38 the Department of Health and Human Services, the options for establishing a MaineCare
39 public health plan. It directs the Office of Affordable Health Care to submit a report to the
40 Joint Standing Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services no later
41 than January 31, 2024 with its recommendations, including any suggested legislation. The
42 committee may report out legislation related to the report.
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