|  Issue 4 | July 2025 | | Director's Corner - It's a Wrap! The Legislature wrapped up its work for this year on June 25. On the policy front, OADS proposed three bills, each enacted unanimously by the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. LD 51: An Act to Increase Oversight of Fatalities and Serious Injuries to Adults Subject to Public Guardianship, will expand the reviews conducted by the Aging and Disability Mortality Review Panel located at the Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Panel currently reviews deaths and serious injuries of individuals who participate in any of our five home and community based services (HCBS) waiver programs, including many who are subject to public guardianship. Under this bill, the Panel will now review all public guardianship deaths, whether or not the individuals are HCBS participants. This bill advances our broader quality assurance strategy. For more on our quality efforts, see articles below on HCBS quality and QuEST. LD 709: An Act to Establish the Respite for ME Program, was introduced by OADS in response to the successful outcomes and features of the Respite for ME pilot program initially funded through Governor Mills' Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. The bill unifies existing state and federally funded respite programs, adopting the most effective features of Respite for ME while streamlining access for caregivers and simplifying administration for Area Agencies on Aging. More types of caregivers will benefit from respite care and supplemental services while service priority will be maintained for family caregivers of individuals of any age with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. For more on the results of the Respite for ME pilot, see this Department blog post. LD 769: An Act Regarding Access to Behavioral Health Supports for Adults with Certain Disabilities, represents a meaningful step forward for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need behavioral health supports. It authorizes OADS to update our rules and replace a burdensome statutory process to provide timely access to supports when needed. See more on this LD and next steps for implementation below. This session posed fiscal challenges: temporary federal COVID19 funds have ended and revenue growth has slowed. Still, for aging and disability programs, the budget maintains current funding levels after several years of significant increases. The Legislature did support several budget initiatives critical to the people supported by OADS programs. First and foremost, the MaineCare budget was bolstered by more than $500 million per year (state and federal funds combined) in the biennium that began on July 1, addressing needs in many service areas including HCBS waiver programs. In addition, the budget includes positions needed to finish development and implement a new Lifespan waiver program (See Lifespan update below) and to support new licensing and related quality initiatives across our programs. Also, HCBS programs received a 1.95% cost-of-living adjustment on July 1 and will receive approximately 1% more in January 2026. The Legislature also added a one-time $3 million appropriation to be allocated to Area Agencies on Aging to address needs among Maine's growing number of older adults, as well as a modest annual appropriation to enhance funding for Respite for ME. | | | The federal budget reconciliation bill signed on July 4 will have broad impacts on Maine's Medicaid, nutrition, and insurance marketplace programs. Impacts are still being assessed and will be refined over time. See this DHHS blog post for a high- level assessment of impacts in Maine, and stay tuned for future updates. On a personal note, after 30 years in public service, I will retire on August 1. It has truly been an honor to lead this office and work with such a committed group of people. I have so appreciated the opportunity to work in Governor Mills' administration and under the leadership of Commissioners Gagne-Holmes and Lambrew. I will miss this work deeply, but I look forward to spending much more time with family and friends. Our long-time Chief Operating Officer, Mark Lutte, will be Acting Director while the Commissioner conducts a permanent search, and I leave knowing that OADS is in very good hands.  Regards, Paul | | | | Quality services are a critical expectation for all OADS programs. In SFY 2025, OADS completed two assessments of service system quality focused on the health and safety of individuals receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and the upcoming Federal Access Rule as it relates to HCBS. To help OADS plan for future HCBS system improvements, OADS partnered with Alvarez and Marsal (A&M) to complete these assessments. Each assessment focused on the current state of our HCBS system and recommendations for how to strengthen our HCBS system in the future. Click here to read more >> | | | Starting in July 2025, OADS plans to conduct a third annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Home and Community Based (HCBS CAHPS®). The HCBS CAHPS® survey provides valuable information about HCBS waiver member service experiences throughout Maine. The survey data collected is part of OADS quality improvement strategy. Since 2023, nearly 4,000 individuals receiving HCBS have participated. OADS goal is to gather feedback from an additional 2,000 HCBS program participants in 2025. Click here for previous survey results (2023-2024) >> | |  QuEST (Quality, Excellence, Staffing, and Teamwork), a collaboration across multiple offices of DHHS, including OADS, DLC, and OMS, as well as the Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) and Maine Health Care Association (MHCA) was launched in the early months of 2025. QuEST uses value-based payments to incentivize higher quality, combined with technical assistance to explore strategies to improve staffing stability, decrease the overuse of antipsychotic medications, and maximize resident and family satisfaction. Click here to read more >> | | | | Are residents in Maine's nursing homes and residential care facilities satisfied with the care they receive? Satisfaction surveys are an important part of quality assessments and improvements across most settings in health care. They provide valuable insights into patient experiences, allowing providers and organizations to identify areas where they excel and areas that need improvement. As described in the article on QuEST above, a satisfaction survey for residents living in nursing homes and their families, called CoreQ will be one of the quality measures to be included in the new value-based payment model for nursing home care. Click here to read more >> | | In 2022 the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released its landmark report, The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality, which described in detail the challenges and deficiencies in the care of residents living in nursing homes across the country. In 2023, as the Office of MaineCare Services (OMS) prepared for a transition to a new model of reimbursement that is value-based rather than fee-for-service, the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) convened a stakeholder of experts to explore what is known about quality in nursing homes. In particular, what is known about the quality of care delivered in Maine's nursing homes? Click here to read more >> | | | This past May 2025, The Innovation Summit: A Path for Maine was held in Portland, where more than 500 stakeholders gathered to reimagine services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism, brain injury, and other related conditions. Hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), in partnership with the National Disability Institute, the Summit brought together providers, policymakers, advocates, and innovators committed to advancing inclusive, person-centered services. In a welcome letter, Governor Janet Mills shared her personal connection to the issue through her grandson, Zach, and reflected, "I still think about Zach every time a family in Maine tells me they are having a hard time finding care for their loved ones." Her message underscored the urgency of the work and encouraged participants to explore bold ideas and technologies that increase independence and improve outcomes. Throughout the event, participants shared. . . Click here to read more >> | |  Keynote Speaker Stacy DiStefano |  Self Advocate Panel |  Attendees Networking | |  The development of Maine's Lifespan Waiver remains a key priority for the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), with continued efforts focused on stakeholder engagement, provider readiness, and interagency collaboration. In June 2023, OADS published. . . Click here to read more >> | | |  Launched in July 2024, the Careers with Purpose marketing campaign builds on the success of the Caring for ME initiative. Its goal is to recruit and retain direct service workers across sectors including aging, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injury, physical disability, and mental health. The campaign also aims to attract a more diverse workforce—such as retirees, new Mainers, career changers, and individuals with lived experience. Click here to read more >> | | | | The Direct Service Worker (DSW) curriculum is designed to streamline entry into direct care and support roles across diverse settings and populations, offering a foundational, portable credential for Personal Support Specialists (PSS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSP). It follows a hybrid learning model that includes 12 hours of asynchronous online training paired with 8 hours of live instruction, improving efficiency and reducing the time needed to gain certification. Click here to read more >> | | | The Department bill, LD 769 " An Act Regarding Access to Behavioral Health Supports for Adults with Certain Disabilities", which passed unanimously out of the HHS Committee, represents a meaningful step forward for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need behavioral health supports. It authorizes OADS to update our rules and replace a burdensome statutory process that often delays the provision of needed services. Click here to read more >> | |  | | | | Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Maine Access Navigator launched in July 2024 to help older adults, their family, and care partners find services, resources, and programs that are tailored to meet their unique needs. It is free to use and can be used at any time. So far, over 1,000 people have used this tool, with 78% of users electing to connect to their local area agency on aging for additional assistance. When surveying users, 89% said the tool was easy to use, and 28% of users accessed the tool using a smartphone. OADS is exploring ways to expand the use of this tool in the future for more populations and possibly integrate it with other available screening tools. | | The 32nd Maine Geriatrics Conference took place on May 21-22 at the Harborside Hotel in the beautiful Bar Harbor. This annual event allowed participants to attend multiple sessions each day and to engage with national, international, and local presenters on topics that affect older adults. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is thankful for the opportunity to participate each year, sharing our successes, discussing future policy opportunities, and hearing feedback from attendees. The DHHS update can be accessed here, and all conference presentations are available on the UNE website. | | | Every four years, the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is required to provide a Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Report in accordance with Public Law 22 §50; PL 2019, c. 612. This report outlines the types of publicly funded services currently available in Maine, including demographic information, and recaps LTSS reforms, strategies, and improvement initiatives that OADS has undertaken in collaboration with other departments within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the aging network, and other interested parties. Click here for to view the Report >> | | In 2021, the Maine Elder Justice Roadmap recommended publishing an annual report identifying trends and patterns in Maine Adult Protective Services (APS) data in order to help develop ongoing recommendations for system improvement. This report covers State Fiscal Year 2021 to 2024, with some data focused on FY 2024 alone. In the last two years, the APS annual report has also included public guardianship data. You can view the report in its entirety. . . Click here to read more >> | |  Maine was proud to be represented at the National APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment) Conference, held June 11–14 in Washington, D.C. This annual event brings together professionals, advocates, and individuals dedicated to advancing inclusive employment for people with disabilities. Click here to read more >> | | | | How can we help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) stay healthy? People with IDD experience the same health challenges as those without IDD. They get the flu and the common cold. They get high blood pressure, diabetes, and struggle with their weight. But why is it that those with IDD die 15-20 years younger than those without IDD? The reasons include the challenges that individuals with IDD have in accessing ongoing primary care, including screening and preventative services. Also, many health care providers lack the skills and training to appropriately assess and manage the unique health needs of those with IDD. Click here to read more >> | | Contact Us
Office of Aging and Disability Services 41 Anthony Ave, State House Station 11 Augusta, ME 04330 phone: 207-287-9200 email: OADS@maine.gov Adult Protective Services 1-800-624-8404 Maine Crisis Line 1-888-568-1112 | | Was this newsletter useful? Do you have suggestions for the next newsletter? Email your feedback to OADS@maine.gov. | | | | |
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