The Maine Department of Health and Human Services no longer plans to cut money from mental health and substance abuse agencies.

However, questions remained Friday about the funding mistake that prompted the warning of cuts and whether money would have to be made up somewhere else.

DHHS had notified mental health and substance abuse agencies late last month to prepare for a 4.3 percent reduction in some of their contracts because the department had made a mistake in funding. 

In a statement released late Thursday evening, DHHS spokesman John Martins said, “The commissioner’s office reviewed this matter and does not anticipate enacting any such reductions, and the department has notified providers to that effect.” 

Martins did not respond to phone calls or emails seeking more information Friday.

The news last month had surprised and concerned providers who set their budgets based on DHHS contracts.

The department wouldn’t say how much money had to be made up, but those involved believe a 4.3 percent cut would work out to between $800,000 and $1.6 million.

The department also refused to provide details about the mistake that caused the cuts.

On Thursday, a DHHS official met with mental health providers and told them cuts likely wouldn’t be as severe as 4.3 percent, but he did not provide a new figure.

That evening, the department told providers there would be no cuts. 

In an email to providers, a DHHS official said the August notice “was sent prematurely and prior to a commissioner’s office review of the matter.”

He added, “We apologize for any confusion and inconvenience it caused.”

Tri-County Mental Health Services in Lewiston stood to lose about $75,000 under a 4.3 percent cut. Executive Director Catherine Ryder called the department’s reversal “very good news.”

“It is the best news possible,” she said. “We don’t have to redo our budgets, we don’t have to say no to people at the front door. That’s great.”

John Painter, service director at Augusta-based Motivational Services, also was happy. His nonprofit community mental health program hasn’t seen an increase in state funding in 18 years, and he didn’t believe it could stand any cut.

“It’s exciting news,” Painter said.

But he remained concerned. 

“These things come about really fast, they get resolved really fast and then they come back again,” he said. “I just wish I knew a little bit more about what was really going on. Ease my mind a bit.”                             

State Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, co-chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, also questioned what happened. She heard from providers soon after the cut was announced in August. She was pleased to learn Friday morning that funding would remain, but she did not know why the cut was even proposed.

“My concern is that since there don’t seem to be answers in terms of how the money got lost in the first place, is that money going to get lost again? And will there be future problems for providers?” Rotundo said. “That money is very important to communities throughout the state, particularly Lewiston and Auburn.”

ltice@sunjournal.com

* This story was edited to correct State Rep. Peggy Rotundo’s committee .