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LD 327

An Act To Provide Additional Funding To Support In-Home Personal Support Services For Qualified Senior Citizens

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 5 co-sponsors

Provides ongoing funding to expand in-home personal support for qualified seniors: $1,000,000 General Fund plus about $1.63M FMAP annually, administered by DHHS.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
#elderlyin-homecare #mainecare #medicaid
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Bill Summary · LD 327

Summary: LD 327 — An Act To Provide Additional Funding To Support In-Home Personal Support Services For Qualified Senior Citizens

Purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to provide additional funding to support in-home personal care services for qualified senior citizens, with a focus on enhancing in-home support options under MaineCare/Medicaid programs.

Key provisions

  • Appropriations:
    • General Fund: Ongoing annual appropriation of $1,000,000 beginning in FY 2025-26 for in-home personal support services for senior citizens.
    • Federal Expenditures Fund: Annual allocations of $1,631,588 beginning in FY 2025-26 to support the FMAP (federal matching) funds for these services.
  • Federal match notes:
    • The fiscal note indicates FMAP-related allocations would be $1,631,588 per year (FY 2025-26 through FY 2028-29).
    • More current estimates suggested in the note would be $1,671,209 for FY 2025-26 and $1,666,326 for FY 2026-27 (reflecting updated FMAP calculations); the table also shows these funds continuing in later years at $1,631,588.
  • No other substantive programmatic changes are detailed in the provided materials beyond the funding enhancements for in-home personal support services.

Fiscal impact

  • Net cost to General Fund (ongoing): $1,000,000 per year starting FY 2025-26.
  • Total funding package (per the fiscal note): $1,000,000 General Fund plus approximately $1.63 million per year from the Federal Expenditures Fund (FMAP match) beginning FY 2025-26; updated FMAP estimates could adjust the federal portion to approximately $1.671 million (FY 2025-26) and $1.666 million (FY 2026-27).
  • Revenue impact: Federal Expenditures Fund receipts would mirror the FMAP-matched allocations.

Affected entities and beneficiaries

  • Primary beneficiaries: Qualified senior citizens who receive in-home personal support services.
  • State agency impact: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) would administer the program and allocate both General Fund and FMAP-funded resources to in-home services.

Timeline and status

  • Introduced: January 30, 2025 (Rep. Bridgeo of Augusta)
  • Referred to: Committee on Health and Human Services
  • Actions in 2025:
    • 01/30: Referred and printed
    • 03/21: Voted ONTP (Ought Not To Pass), work session held, carried over
    • 03/26: Reported Out – ONTP
    • 03/27: Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3, placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
  • Meaning: The bill is effectively dead and not advancing in the current session, though the fiscal framework reflects potential ongoing funding if reintroduced.

Notes and context

  • The bill’s central change is targeted funding for in-home personal support services, leveraging federal FMAP matching to maximize federal funds alongside a steady General Fund investment.
  • No specific eligibility criteria or benefit delivery changes are described in the documents provided beyond the funding provisions.

This summary captures the bill’s stated purpose, funding mechanics, affected programs, and the current legislative status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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