130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 718
H.P. 529 House of Representatives, March 5, 2021
An Act To Improve the Health of Maine Residents by Closing
Coverage Gaps in the MaineCare Program and the Children's
Health Insurance Program
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 3, 2021. Referred to the Committee on
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CRAVEN of Lewiston, DUNPHY of Old Town, Speaker
FECTEAU of Biddeford, MEYER of Eliot, TEPLER of Topsham, Senator: CLAXTON of
Androscoggin.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3174-FFF is enacted to read:
3 §3174-FFF. MaineCare program and Children's Health Insurance Program
4 coverage for noncitizens
5 1. Coverage provided. The department shall provide the same scope of medical
6 assistance provided under section 3174-G for comparable enrollment groups to a person
7 who would be eligible for assistance under the federal Medicaid program under Title XIX
8 of the federal Social Security Act but for their immigration status. In accordance with 8
9 United States Code, Section 1621, the State shall appropriate funds in the state budget to
10 provide medical assistance through the MaineCare program and the Children's Health
11 Insurance Program as defined in section 3174-X, subsection 1, paragraph A for noncitizen
12 individuals who reside in the State and are ineligible for coverage due to federal restrictions
13 in the federal Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
14 2. Maximization of federal funds. The department shall maximize the receipt of
15 available federal matching funds for coverage provided under this section, including, but
16 not limited to, the state option to cover a noncitizen pregnant person by covering that
17 person's child from conception through birth.
18 3. Rulemaking. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules
19 adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter
20 375, subchapter 2-A.
21 4. Waivers and state Medicaid plan. The department shall seek any waivers and
22 make amendments to the state Medicaid plan as needed to increase access to any federal
23 funds that may be available to provide coverage under this section.
24 SUMMARY
25 This bill provides MaineCare program and the Children's Health Insurance Program
26 coverage for noncitizen residents of this State who are ineligible for coverage under the
27 federal Medicaid program or Children's Health Insurance Program due to their immigration
28 status.
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