Bill to prevent mental health cuts is law after Senate overrides veto

AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate on Tuesday overrode Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that prevents devastating and unprecedented cuts to mental health services statewide. The bill will now become law.

The bill, LD 1696, will block cuts that could have harmed nearly 50,000 vulnerable Mainers, including almost 20,000 children. The Senate overturned the governor’s veto in a 28-6 vote. Earlier in the day, the House overrode the veto 101-45.

“Overriding this veto is a victory for Maine families, who depend on these mental health services that help people with severe mental illness to live stable and, as much as possible, independent lives,” said Sen. Anne Haskell, D-Portland, the lead Senate Democrat on the Health and Human Services Committee. “I’m thankful that despite the governor’s opposition, this bill will become law.”

LD 1696 gives the Department of Health and Human Services a January 2017 deadline to present a final rate study on mental health services provided through various MaineCare programs. The bill also implements a 60-day wait period before beginning the rulemaking process and implementing any cuts.

This year, the department attempted to enact policies through rulemaking that would have dramatically limited eligibility for these services and reduced reimbursements to providers. Together, those changes presented losses or interruptions of services to Mainers with severe mental illness.

Based on estimates from 26 mental health agencies, the administration’s proposed cuts would mean lost services for 19,766 children with autism and other disabilities and 27,782 vulnerable adults. Providers would also see a $28.7 million reduction in reimbursements from the state.

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