MaineCare providers went without their usual Wednesday payment on Oct. 7, 2026, because the state is switching to an upgraded version of MIHMS, the system that processes MaineCare claims. The schedule is in the Office of MaineCare Services' payment cycle bulletin, last updated Oct. 5, and The Maine Wire reported the skipped payment on Oct. 8.
The upgrade is scheduled to go live Oct. 10. MIHMS has been in a data freeze since 8 p.m. Oct. 2, and the freeze lasts until 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12.
The October payment schedule
| Payment date | What it is | Claims deadline to be included |
|---|---|---|
| Wed., Sept. 30 | Last regular cycle before the freeze | Fri., Sept. 25, 5 a.m. |
| Thu., Oct. 1 | Extra cycle before the freeze | Wed., Sept. 30, 5 a.m. |
| Wed., Oct. 7 | No payment | None |
| Thu., Oct. 15 | First cycle in the upgraded system | Tue., Oct. 13, 2 p.m. (portal or secure file transfer) |
| Wed., Oct. 21 | Regular weekly cycle resumes | Fri., Oct. 16, 5 a.m. |
Two cautions from the bulletin: a claim sent on time is not guaranteed to make the next cycle, since OMS can take up to 30 days to process a claim, and the freeze does not extend timely filing limits. Electronic visit verification, prior authorizations, eligibility checks and provider enrollment are among the functions affected during the freeze, and the bulletin points providers to an FAQ that OMS updated on Sept. 21.
The Maine Wire reported that the payment gap stems from the planned upgrade, not a funding shortfall, and that the state ran the extra Oct. 1 cycle to soften it.
New portal sign-in starts Oct. 12
The new MaineCare Partner Portal replaces the HealthPAS Online Portal at 8 a.m. Oct. 12, and it requires multi-factor authentication, according to an Oct. 6 OMS notice. Users choose one second step. The state recommends the Microsoft Authenticator app. Text, phone call and email codes are allowed through September 2027. Setup can't start before Oct. 12.
Lifespan waiver survey closes Oct. 16
Separately, the Office of Aging and Disability Services said on Oct. 2 that it plans to launch the new Lifespan Waiver in May 2027. It is asking agencies that serve people 14 and older with an intellectual disability or autism to fill out a provider interest survey by 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. OADS says filling it out does not commit an agency to offering services.
Why this matters for providers and DSPs
Provider agencies that bill MaineCare for home and community-based services still have to make payroll for DSPs while no money comes in between the Oct. 1 extra cycle and Oct. 15. Finance staff should confirm claims are in by Oct. 13 at 2 p.m., budget for some claims landing later than Oct. 15, and keep an eye on timely filing limits. Office staff who use the portal should have an authenticator app or backup phone ready for Oct. 12. Agencies thinking about Lifespan services can answer the OADS survey without committing to anything.