Sen. Brenner introduces bill to support behavioral health patients

AUGUSTA – On January 24, Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, introduced a bill to address how Maine delivers medication management, otherwise known as outpatient psychiatry, to assure patients get the mental health support they need. LD 2083, “A Resolve, to Establish the Stakeholder Group to Ensure Timely Access to Medication Management Across the State,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Committee on Health and Human Services.

This legislation would create a stakeholder group consisting of medical providers, mental health advocates, and family members of those using medication services to assess the current state of medication management and identify any existing challenges.

“Many agencies in Maine have stopped providing service or have cut back to minimal levels. As a result, many Mainers must wait four to six months to even get an initial appointment for this foundational service,” stated Sen. Brenner. “Given the crisis in capacity, reduction in reimbursement rates for any provider with the capacity to provide medication management services is not in line with our collective goals of supporting a more robust mental health system for all of Maine.”

The bill would address the reimbursement rates for psychiatric nurse practitioners who currently provide 70% of this service in Maine but face a cut in January 2025. It also would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to meet with providers about how offering medication management programs would help identify and address existing challenges.

“We have seen people who come out of rehab or addiction but cannot get in to see someone for months on end. We know that there are very few psychiatrists in the state who are able or willing to provide this service,” said Betsy Sweet of Behavioral Health Community Collaborative.

Currently, community mental health providers are severely understaffed and under-resourced. LD 2083 would allow for an analysis and review of the rates of those who provide medication management so this critical mental health service remains available to Maine people.

The bill faces further action in committee.