In Home Services for Children with Behavioral Health Issues or Mental Retardation, Autism or related conditions
Children with behavioral health problems or children with mental retardation, autism or related conditions, may be able to get
services in their home. Those services are given under either Section 24 or Section 65 M of the
MaineCare benefit rules.
Here’s how it works:
Before a child can get services in the home, MaineCare must prior authorize the service. This means that the Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS) must first say it is okay to get the service.
- The family sits down with their Case Manager (if they have one) and decides what services are needed. The Case Manager fills out
the Central Enrollment paperwork to get the child on the list for in-home services.
- A provider agency then does an assessment of the child’s needs. The provider develops a Plan of Care and sends it to DHHS for
approval.
- DHHS then sends the family a notice telling them what services are approved. The notice also says how many hours of service
the child can have.
If the family does not have a Case Manager, then the family can contact the local office of Children’s Behavioral Health Services for
help with this.
Get list of the district offices.
Begin the process by using these online forms.
DHHS limits how long the approved services may last. The provider must then ask DHHS to extend the services if they are still needed.
A notice of the DHHS decision will go to the family. This notice must also allow the family to appeal if they don’t agree with the
decision. The family must appeal within 10 days of the date on the notice. The child can continue to get services at the old level,
pending the outcome of a hearing.
For further help contact either:
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Disclaimer
Maine Equal Justice Partners
February 2009
We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date
indicated for each client education page. Sometimes the law changes. We cannot guarantee or promise that this information is
always up-to-date and correct. Feel free to contact us to find out if there have been any changes since the date of the
information provided.
We do not intend this information to be legal advice. We do not intend it as advertising or
solicitation. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. It is best to consult a competent lawyer before
taking legal action.
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