Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-I, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Limitation.__The assessment procedure required by this section must be interpreted by the department to require periodic certification of eligibility for residents of nursing facilities who have end-stage diseases or who are terminally ill by either the department or the federal Department of Health and Human Services.__If a federally required assessment of eligibility for services is completed to cover an eligibility period similar to the state eligibility period, assessment under this section must be waived by the department.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to accept assessments of eligibility for nursing facility services completed for federal purposes for persons with end- stage diseases and persons who are terminally ill.