129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1062		LR 1599(01)
	An Act To Support Maine Families by Providing for Transportation of Parents and Guardians of MaineCare Recipients under 18 Years of Age to Their Appointments
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Madigan of Waterville
	Committee: Health and Human Services
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund Contingent current biennium cost increase - Federal Expenditures Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to provide nonemergency medical transportation for a parent or guardian of a MaineCare member under 18 years of age to and from providers of medical services when no other means of transportation is available to the parent or guardian in accordance with the requirements of the federal Medicaid program and regulations. The bill also requires the DHHS to apply for any necessary Medicaid waivers or submit any state plan amendments (SPA) to receive federal matching Medicaid funds for transportation of parents or guardians, as outlined above. In the event that no matching federal funds are available, the Department of Health and Human Services shall cover the costs using General Fund money. If the parent or guardian is accompanying a MaineCare member under 18 years of age to and from providers of medical services, escort and attendants are already provided coverage in the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 113 Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) Services, so this service would have no fiscal impact. If the intent is to also provide  transportation of the parent/guardian to a child’s appointment without the child in the car, this is not currently covered. General fund dollars would be required to fund these additional services, and, contingent upon the waiver or SPA approval by the federal government, Federal Expenditures Fund allocations may also be required. As it is not known how many trips a parent or guardian would make without the child in the car, no estimate of the impact is made at this time.