The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is sending an additional $10 million in state and federal funds to private nonmedical institutions.
DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew says the temporary increase in payments is a response to COVID-19 and an effort to make sure the facilities are adequately staffed during the pandemic.
"We are, today, going beyond just the nursing facilities to provide about $10 million to what are called private nonmedical institutions serving children, older Mainers and people with substance disorders," Lambrew says.
The increase in funding will be provided through a temporary bump in MaineCare rates that the state pays to the facilities.
The rate increase is retroactive to March 1 and runs through May 31.
