An Act To Address The Shortage Of Direct Care Workers For Children With Disabilities In Maine

LD 279 allows parents of children with disabilities eligible for MaineCare in-home personal care services to receive reimbursement for providing care themselves, under specific conditions. To qualify, parents must document reasonable but unsuccessful efforts to secure other care and pass a background check, while designating a non-parent as the employer (approved by both the parent and the Department of Health and Human Services). The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal Medicaid waiver approval within six months and implement the program only if federal approval is granted. This addresses immediate shortages by enabling parents to maintain employment while providing essential care, pending federal authorization.