The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee plans to review proposed rule changes from the LePage administration that providers say would cut services for thousands of Mainers with mental illnesses.
Those rules aren’t typically reviewable by the Legislature, but affected individuals used a provision allowing them to petition the committee for review and got the five necessary votes. Now, there will be a public hearing and committee recommendation.
Democrats are expected to oppose the rules, with Sen. Anne Haskell, D-Portland a committee member, saying in a statement that the change “will leave many vulnerable citizens behind.”
It’s the second time the petition procedure has been used this year. The LePage administration withdrew proposed changes to services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities after concerns with transparency.
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