A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AAA (Area Agency of Aging). AAAs are local non-profit agencies designated by Maine’s Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (BEAS) to coordinate and provide services to elderly people, pursuant to the federal Older Americans Act. Maine has several regional AAAs.
ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). ABA is a therapeutic intervention for children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders.
ACT (Assertive Community Treatment). ACT is a type of case management service offered through Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS).
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The ADA is the federal law governing the rights of persons with disabilities.
ADL (Activities of Daily Living). ADLs are a set of physical abilities (e.g., bathing, dressing, walking, transferring in and out of a chair or bed, toileting, and eating) essential to independent living.
AFCH (Adult Family Care Home).
AMHI (Augusta Mental Health Institute). AMHI is a state-operated mental health hospital, under the authority of Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS).
ARTS (Aroostook Regional Transportation System).
ASA (Assessing Services Agency). An ASA is a private agency under contract with Maine’s Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (BEAS) to assess the needs of persons seeking long term care services (e.g., Goold Health Systems).
ASL (American Sign Language).
AT (Assistive Technology).
BCFS (Bureau of Child and Family Services). BCFS is a Maine state agency within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is responsible for child protective services.
BDS (Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services). BDS is a Maine state agency serving persons with disabilities and addiction disorders.
BEAS (Bureau of Elder and Adult Services). BEAS is a Maine state agency within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is responsible for services to elders and persons with disabilities.
BERS (Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale). BERS is a tool used by Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) to measure a child’s emotional and behavioral strengths.
BFI (Bureau of Family Independence). BFI is a Maine state agency within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is responsible for determining Medicaid eligibility and administering income support programs including TANF and SSI.
BMHI (Bangor Mental Health Institute). BMHI is a Maine state-operated mental health hospital under the authority of the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS).
BMS (Bureau of Medical Services). BMS is a Maine state agency with the Department of Human Services (DHS) responsible for operating the Medicaid program.
BRAP (Bridging Rental Assistance Program). BRAP is a program within Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) that offers transitional rental assistance for persons waiting for longer term housing subsidies.
BRS (Bureau of Rehabilitation Services). BRS is a Maine state agency within the Department of Labor (DOL) and is responsible for providing vocational rehabilitation and assisted living services to persons with disabilities.
CAFAS (Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Score). CAFAS an assessment tool used by Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) to measure a child’s level of psychological functioning across five domains.
CALOCUS (Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Score). CALOCUS is the assessment tool used by Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) for determining the needs of children and adolescents with mental illness.
CDS (Child Development Services). CDS is a unit within the Division of Special Services within Maine’s Department of Education and (DOE) is responsible for the early intervention and other services provided to children from birth to age 5.
Class Member. A member of a class action lawsuit, who is entitled to certain protections and rights under the decision or settlement of the lawsuit. In the case of the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) class action lawsuit, a "class member" is anyone who was a patient of AMHI on or after January 1, 1988. In the case of the Pineland class action lawsuit, a "class member" is anyone who had been involuntarily confined at Pineland on or after July 3, 1975 or who had been conditionally released from Pineland and in a community placement on or after July 3, 1975 (with some exclusions).
CMRS (Corrections Management Record System). CMRS is the information system within Maine’s Department of Corrections (DOC).
CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). CMS is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the federal agency responsible for administering Medicare and the federal government’s role in the Medicaid program.
CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).
CON (Certificate of Need). CON is a regulatory review required for hospitals, nursing facilities, and certain other health care facilities, before expanding, building, or reducing the facility’s capacity.
Consent Decree. An enforceable judge’s order based upon an out-of-court agreement between opposing parties to a lawsuit. In the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) class action lawsuit, the judge issued a consent decree that made Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services’ (BDS) out-of-court agreement to build a system of community services enforceable in court.
DD (Developmental Disability).
DHS (Maine’s Department of Human Services).
DME (Durable Medical Equipment).
DOC (Maine’s Department of Corrections).
DOE (Maine’s Department of Education).
DOL (Maine’s Department of Labor).
DOT (Maine’s Department of Transportation).
DSS (Division of Special Services). DSS is a state agency within the Department of Education (DOE) and is responsible for ensuring that special education services are provided to children with disabilities.
ECT (Early Childhood Team). An ECT is a team within the Department of Education (DOE) responsible for developing the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP) for children age birth to 5, in need of early intervention or other special education services.
EIM (Elderly Independence of Maine). EIM is the home care coordinating agency for long term care programs administered by Maine’s Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (BEAS).
EPSDT (Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment). All Medicaid recipients under age 21 are eligible for EPSDT services which any health care, diagnostic service, treatment or other measure covered by Medicaid and necessary to correct or ameliorate defects, physical and mental illnesses, or conditions.
Entitlement. A service that must be provided to all persons meeting the eligibility criteria. For example, Medicaid state plan services are an entitlement and must be provided.
FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education). FAPE is a term used by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to describe the education to which children with disabilities are entitled.
FPL (Federal Poverty Level). The FPL is the threshold used as a basis for determining Medicaid eligibility.
HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services).
HCCA (Home Care Coordinating Agency). A HCCA is the private agency responsible for coordinating home and community services for Maine’s Bureau of Elder and Adult Services’ (BEAS) clients.
HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration). An agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the federal agency responsible for administering Medicare and the federal government’s role in the Medicaid program. This agency is now called the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
HUD (Housing and Urban Development).
I&R (Information and Referral).
IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living). IADLs are regularly necessary home management activities, including meal preparation, housework, grocery shopping and other similar activities.
ICF-MR (Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Mental Retardation).
ICM (Intensive Case Management). ICM is a type of case management service provided by Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS).
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). IDEA is the federal law governing the rights of children with disabilities to receive a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
IEP (Individualized Education Program). IEP is a program within Maine’s Department of Education (DOE) and is a term used for the service plan developed by the Pupil Evaluation Team (PET).
IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan). IFSP is a term used within Maine’s Department of Education (DOE) for the service plan developed by the Early Childhood Team (ECT) for children from birth to 5.
ILS (Independent Living Services). ILS is a program offered through Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), which is within Maine’s Department of Labor (DOL).
IRWE (Impairment Related Work Expenses).
ISP (Individualized Support Plan). ISP is the term used within Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) for the service plan developed.
LCRC (Local Case Resolution Committees). The local inter-departmental committees formed by the Children's Cabinet in Maine to address needs of children requiring inter-agency resource management.
LD (Legislative Document).
LOCUS (Level of Care Utilization System). The LOCUS is the assessment tool used by Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) to determine the needs of adults with mental illness.
LRE (Least Restrictive Environment). LRE is the terminology used under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to describe the right of children with disabilities to be educated in an integrated setting.
LSN (Local Service Network). The LSN is the local organizational unit around which Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) is building its system for community-based services.
MACWIS (Maine Automated Child Welfare Information System). MACWIS is the information system used by Maine’s Bureau of Child and Family Services (BCFS).
MECARE. The electronic version of Medical Eligibility Determination (MED).
MED (Medical Eligibility Determination). MED is the assessment tool used by Maine’s Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (BEAS) to assess a person’s eligibility for nursing facility services.
MOU (Memo of Understanding).
MR (Mental Retardation).
MSHA (Maine State Housing Authority).
NIMBY ("Not in my back yard").
Olmstead Decision. A 1999 US Supreme Court decision holding that unnecessary segregation of persons with disabilities is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
OSA (Office of Substance Abuse). OSA is an office within Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) and is responsible for providing substance abuse treatment services.
OSADS (Office of Substance Abuse Data Systems).
OUI (Operating Under the Influence).
PASS (Plan for Achieving Self-Support).
PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness). PATH is a federally sponsored program providing services to homeless persons.
PCA (Personal Care Attendant).
PCS (Person-Centered Services).
PET (Pupil Evaluation Team). PET, working within Maine’s Department of Education (DOE), is the team responsible for developing the special education service plan for children age 5 to 20.
PHP (Preventive Health Program). A PHP is a local provider agency under contract by Maine’s Bureau of Child and Family Services (BCFS) to provide assessment services to children in protective custody.
QIC (Quality Improvement Council). The QIC, which operates under Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS), is a state and regional council with consumer and family representation responsible for assisting BDS with systems planning and needs assessment.
RCCF (Residential Child Care Facility).
RCF (Residential Care Facility).
RTP (Regional Transportation Program, Inc.).
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). SAMHSA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and is responsible for administering block grants and other programs supporting services to persons with mental illness or addiction disorders.
SMART Exchange. SMART is a regional information exchange project of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and United Cerebral Palsy Association involving consumer responsive technology services.
SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility). An SNF is a nursing facility eligible for Medicare reimbursement.
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). SSDI is an income support program for persons with Social Security coverage and serious disabilities
SSI (Supplemental Security Income). SSI is an income support program for low-income persons with serious disabilities.
State Seed. The state’s share of funding for the Medicaid program. The federal government pays about two-thirds of Maine’s Medicaid costs while the State pays the other one-third. Different departments within different parts of Maine government pay their share of the "state seed" for services provided through that department.
State Plan. A state’s Medicaid program, federally approved under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. The state plan defines which services will be covered and terms of eligibility for different types of services. While states must include certain basic services and eligibility standards in their Medicaid program, the term "state plan" often refers specifically to those other services and eligibility standards that are optional (examples: ambulance, physical therapy, prescribed drugs). In addition to basic and optional state plan services, there are other home and community-based services that require special federal approval in the form of a waiver from the regular terms of the Social Security Act. (See "Waivers.")
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). TANF is an income support program for households with children.
TDD (Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf).
TWWIIA (Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act). TWIIAA is part of a comprehensive national initiative designed to assist people with the training and support they need to go to work.
U.S. DHHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services).
VR (Vocational Rehabilitation).
Waivers. Medicaid programs that offer home and community-based services for persons who would otherwise be eligible for institutional care. These programs require special permission from the federal government because they are not an "entitlement" like other Medicaid services, because they expand the eligibility criteria, and because they offer different services than allowed under state plan Medicaid.
WAI (Workforce Investment Act).