The answer is Yes.
The 12hours (one hours dual time) within 12month is for SEP. After this you have to do a checkout ride/ test with a examiner to get back your SEP.
On your MEP you have to do a checkout/test with an examiner. However MEP examiners tend to do be much more indepth with getting thing perfect as they normally do IR/class rating/MEP rating which are normally done on commercial pilots.
Its like it takes 6hours minimum to get a MEP rating, where as you can fly an single engine aircraft with an undercarriage/ turboprop not on a class rating or even a presurisation aircraft with just a quick checkout ride.