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FOR PROVIDERS
Help Your Clients Access Maine’s Relief Payment $300 Maine will provide a one-time $300 relief payment to eligible residents in the coming months. Individuals who have already filed the required state tax forms will receive the payment automatically. Those who have not may need help completing the Property Tax Fairness Credit form. Join a Southern Maine Agency on Aging Resource Specialist for a virtual training on how to complete and submit the form online for the individuals you support. MONDAY August 17 3–4 p.m. • Zoom REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Uqxoj3AJQ7qT4CnxccQEYg#/registration TUESDAY August 25 9–10 a.m. • Zoom REGISTER https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Uqxoj3AJQ7qT4CnxccQEYg#/registration Please note: SMAA Resource Specialists will provide general guidance on completing the form. They are not certified tax preparers and cannot offer tax advice or determine an individual’s eligibility. SOUTHERN MAINE AGENCY ON AGING • SMAAA.ORG We, SMAA, are also offering a Medicare 101 for Providers, in case you know anyone interested. They will be held on Wednesday, July 29th at 12:00 PM and a session on Friday, August 14th at 10:00 AM. The seminar description is below:
Do you work in healthcare, social services, or another profession that works with people who have Medicare? This Zoom-based session is a great place to start understanding the basics of Medicare. Our SHIP Counselors offer current, relevant, and unbiased information you can use to better understand Medicare and the options Medicare beneficiaries have for health insurance. You will learn:
https://www.smaaa.org/events/ 
A Note from Joseph Macbeth, NADSP President & CEO
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals is profoundly disappointed by the June 18 legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. This is not a ruling by the Supreme Court or another federal court, and it does not overturn Olmstead or eliminate protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It represents the legal interpretation of the Justice Department official who authored it and remains subject to review by the courts.
Nevertheless, it is a hostile action by the Administration that seeks to weaken one of the most important civil rights protections secured by people with disabilities. The opinion argues that neither the ADA nor Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires states to serve people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. It also contends that federal regulations protecting that right are unlawful and that Olmstead v. L.C. did not establish the broad, enforceable right to community services recognized by the federal government for decades. That interpretation is wrong in both law and principle. The Supreme Court held in Olmstead that unjustified institutional isolation is discrimination. It recognized that unnecessary confinement reinforces the false belief that people with disabilities are incapable or unworthy of community life and severely limits their family relationships, education, employment, independence and participation in society. The DOJ opinion attempts to reduce that ruling to little more than a prohibition against institutionalization without any stated justification. Under this reasoning, states could point to limited resources, inadequate community capacity or policy preferences to justify segregation, even when those conditions resulted from years of underinvestment. A state should not be allowed to neglect its community system and then use that neglect as a reason to keep people institutionalized. For decades, federal enforcement has required states to confront unnecessary segregation, expand community services and develop alternatives for people confined because adequate supports were unavailable. Those efforts did not force people from appropriate placements. They required individualized decisions, reasonable accommodations and meaningful choices. 
Senior Policy Advisor Nicole Jorwic provides a policy update.
Families have spent years, and often lifetimes, building those community supports. They have fought institutionalization, endured long waiting lists and demanded that their loved ones be treated as full members of society. They have every reason to feel furious and betrayed that their own government is now attacking the legal foundation of that progress.
Because this opinion does not settle the law, it may instead trigger years of costly litigation. People with disabilities and their families may again be forced to go to court, state by state and case by case, to protect rights they believed had been firmly established nearly three decades ago. The Justice Department itself acknowledges that its interpretation may be challenged and that states relying upon it could still face lawsuits. The timing could not be more dangerous. The administration and Congress have already approved nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid reductions through the reconciliation bill earlier this year. Medicaid is the principal source of funding for home and community-based services. Cutting those resources while weakening federal civil rights enforcement places people with disabilities at greater risk of losing services, being separated from their families and being forced into institutions. Direct support professionals make community living possible, but this fight is fundamentally about the freedom, dignity and civil rights of people with disabilities. NADSP calls upon the Department of Justice to withdraw this dangerous opinion and reaffirm its obligation to enforce Olmstead, the ADA and Section 504. People with disabilities and their families should not have to endure years of uncertainty and endless litigation to preserve rights recognized by the Supreme Court 27 years ago. People with disabilities belong in their communities. Their freedom cannot depend upon a state’s willingness to fund services, an administration’s hostility toward disability rights or their ability to survive another prolonged court battle. The disability community fought too hard to escape institutional segregation. We will not allow this administration to lead America backward. 
Joseph M. Macbeth
President and Chief Executive Officer National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals SHARE THIS EMAIL
The vision of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) is a world with a highly qualified and professional direct support workforce that partners with, supports, and empowers people with disabilities to lead a life of their choosing. NADSP works to elevate the status of direct support professionals by improving practice standards, promoting system reform, and advancing their knowledge, skills and values, through certification, credentialing, training, professional development, and accreditation services.
SECTION 21:
Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 21, Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder Feb 27, 2026 The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage. This website keeps the rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes. The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website. Below, please find a MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment. You can access the complete rule at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml. ____________________________________________________________________________ Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, MaineCare Services RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Chapter 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 21, Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder WAIVER: ME.0159, Home and Community Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed changes include the following: Waiver Appendix C
DHHS is accepting comments through 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026. Any interested party may obtain a copy of the waiver amendment by going to the website noted below or at any regional Office for Family Independence (a list of the offices and locations can be found at this link http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/offices/index.html). A printed copy may be obtained by calling Lisa Weaver at (207) 624-4050 or emailing [email protected]. See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for waiver amendment and to submit comments. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 42 CFR §441.304 DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026. AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Heather Bingelis, Comprehensive Health Planner II AGENCY NAME: MaineCare Services ADDRESS: 109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 [email protected] TELEPHONE: 207-624-4951 FAX: (207) 287-1864 TTY: 711 SECTION 29: MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 29, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder Feb 27, 2026 The Division of Policy posts all proposed and recently adopted rules on MaineCare’s Policy and Rules webpage. This website keeps the rules on file until they are finalized and until the Secretary of State website is updated to reflect the changes. The MaineCare Benefits Manual is available on-line at the Secretary of State’s website. Below, please find a MaineCare Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment. You can access the complete rule at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml. ____________________________________________________________________________ Notice of Agency Waiver Amendment AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, MaineCare Services RULE TITLE OR SUBJECT: Chapter 101, MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 29, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder WAIVER: ME.0467, Support Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder CONCISE SUMMARY: The proposed changes include the following: Waiver Appendix C
DHHS is accepting comments through 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026. Any interested party may obtain a copy of the waiver amendment by going to the website noted below or at any regional Office for Family Independence (a list of the offices and locations can be found at this link http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/offices/index.html). A printed copy may be obtained by calling Lisa Weaver at (207) 624-4050 or emailing [email protected]. See http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/rules/index.shtml for waiver amendment and to submit comments. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 42 CFR §441.304 DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS: Comments must be received by 11:59 pm, March 29, 2026. AGENCY CONTACT PERSON: Heather Bingelis, Comprehensive Health Planner II AGENCY NAME: MaineCare Services ADDRESS: 109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0011 [email protected] OADS Lifespan Waiver FAQs
Thank you to all who attended the OADS “Lifespan Overview” Zoom webinar on 1/21/26 and/or the “SIS-A and Levels” webinar on 1/23/2026. The videos and presentations can be found on the HCBS Lifespan Project web page. We are pleased to announce that the Lifespan FAQ document we have been working to finalize is complete and ready for your review. You will also find it on the HCBS Lifespan Project web page (see link above) in the Lifespan Resources section of the page. Please consider registering today for one of our upcoming SIS-A information sessions outlining the need for the SIS-A and how scheduling and the assessment will work. These are targeted for different audiences including Case Managers, Providers, members, families, and/or guardians. The first info session is tomorrow (2/25). See below for info on the sessions and to register:
All sessions will be recorded and the slide deck and video will be available on the SIS-A Implementation Project web page following the last presentation. We appreciate your involvement with Lifespan. The input we receive from you will help to improve the program. Ramping Up SIS-A AssessmentsThe Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been working on the Lifespan waiver for several years. People with disabilities, families, advocates, and providers have helped shape this work.
The Department plans to post the draft waiver for public comment soon. When the new waiver launches, new services and new rates will also begin. These rates will include tiered levels based on support needs identified from the SIS-A. Because of this, everyone enrolled in Section 21, Section 29, or the new Lifespan waiver will need to complete a SIS-A assessment. Since many people will need an assessment, the Department will begin increasing the number of assessments completed each month starting in February and March 2026. To learn how this increase will work, how scheduling will happen, and what to expect during the assessment, please register to join one of the following webinars.
If you need an accommodation or support to take part in one or more of these meetings, please contact [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you all and working together to improve services and service delivery. ~ The OADS Team SIS-A Assessments Ramp Up in March 2026For MaineCare Section 21 and Section 29 Members
How Scheduling Works:
The SIS-A is not a test. It is a guided conversation about the supports you need to be safe, healthy, and successful in daily life.
The Department is using the SIS-A for all individuals on Sections 21 and 29, as well as Lifespan. The SIS-A provides additional information to support the person-centered planning process. Also, Maine is using the SIS-A so providers can be paid based on the level of assessed support needs across several services for the people they support. For those with higher needs, the provider can receive a higher reimbursement. Taking an assessment now can prevent later backlogs of assessments. It is important that you schedule an assessment with Maximus. How to get ready (simple tips)
Maximus Maine SIS Help Desk: 833-771-4639 | [email protected] Look for an invitation soon to join SIS-A information sessions via Zoom in late February, beginning of March. Home and Community Based Supports (HCBS) Sections 18, 20, 21, 29, and New Lifespan Waiver: Comment Summary with Department Response and Final Draft Rate Models
The final draft rate models for Sections 18, 20, 21, 29, the new Lifespan Waiver, and a summary of all comments resulting from the public forum from April 14, 2025, is available on the MaineCare Rate System Reform webpage, along with all related notices and presented materials to date. The comment summary includes the Department’s written responses, with an explanation of whether and how feedback was incorporated into the final draft rates. We thank all those who contributed. Background
This notice is sent pursuant to *Rate Reform law. For questions and comments on the rate determination process, or suggestions for the next Annual Rate Determination Schedule, please submit to [email protected]. Learn more about this process on the Rate System Reform webpage. Forwarded Action Alert: Maine Disability Alerts -ask Sen Collins office to protect special education1/19/2026 Maine Disability Alerts
Dear Friends of People with Disabilities, There are ongoing attempts at the federal level to eliminate the US Department of Education, to get rid of federal enforcement of the rights of students with disabilities, and to eliminate special education support. To some extent, both the US Senate and the US House have pushed back. The US Senate is being more protective of special education than the US House, but both could do better. The US Senate and US House have to work out a compromise by the end of this month before the next federal shut-down deadline. With this in mind, please contact the office of Sen Susan Collins, who is the chair of the US Senate Appropriations committee, with the following message:
Contact info:
-- We have learned yesterday afternoon that the bill Senator Collins sponsored to continue funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) not include Part D of IDEA.
Why This Matters Part D of IDEA includes personnel development, technical assistant, parent training and information centers (like Maine Parent Federation), information dissemination, and technology. Without this funding these services may not exist for the state of Maine. What Does This Mean for MPF If not included in this bill our parent center funding would most likely cease to exist and jeopardize our ability to remain fully operational and committed to the families and communities, we serve. In partnership with disability organizations across Maine and within our National Coalitions MPF is committed to asking Senator Collins to please add Part D of IDEA to the language in the bill. What Can You Do Our turnaround time for this request is very tight as it appears the bill may be in the House of Representatives tomorrow, Sunday January 18th. If you are able and willing today, Saturday January 18th, please consider sending the following email to Senator Collins' Education and Appropriation staffer Mark LeDuc. Email Template Dear Mr. LeDuc, My name is "enter name" and I am a "write how you would like to be identified i.e. parent of a child with a disability etc...". I am contacting you today to request that Senator Collins add IDEA Part D to Section 314 of the Labor H Education bill to continue funding for Parent Centers, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), technical assistance to the OSEP grantees in our state, and professional development for our special educators. All of these services are crucial for students with disabilities in Maine to access their education and increase positive outcomes. Thank you for your time and consideration. "Your name and contact information" Senator Collins Staffer Senator Susan Collins - Chair of the Appropriations Committee Education & Appropriations Staffer - Mark LeDuc - [email protected] Website Maine Parent Federation understands we have asked a lot of our constituents over the last year. Unfortunately, right now the attack on services for children with disabilities continues and we truly appreciate your advocacy and voice to assist us during what remains an extremely challenging time. I remain available to all of you to assist with your questions and concerns. Thoughtfully with you, Carrie Woodcock, Executive Director and The Staff of Maine Parent Federation |
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