Resolve, To Evaluate the All-payor Claims Database System for the State

Sec. 1. Creation of working group. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, referred to in this resolve as "the department," shall establish and convene a working group to evaluate options and actions available to improve the availability of and access to health care data and to examine the all-payor claims database system in the State; and be it further

Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall invite 17 persons to participate in the working group, as follows:

1. Two representatives of health insurance carriers;

2. Two representatives of health care providers, one member representing hospitals and one member representing physicians;

3. Two representatives of employers, one member representing a statewide health management coalition and one member representing a statewide chamber of commerce;

4. One representative of consumers;

5. One expert in both state and federal privacy laws;

6. One representative of the Maine Health Data Organization;

7. One representative of the Maine Health Data Processing Center;

8. One representative of Onpoint Health Data;

9. One representative of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of Information Technology;

10. One representative of HealthInfoNet;

11. One representative of the MaineCare program within the department;

12. One representative of the federal Medicare program;

13. One representative of the Office of the Attorney General; and

14. One representative of the Maine Quality Forum; and be it further

Sec. 3. Cochairs. Resolved: That the members of the working group shall select 2 of the members to serve as cochairs; and be it further

Sec. 4. Evaluation. Resolved: That the working group shall consider changes to the State's all-payor claims database system to improve the availability of and access to health care data by:

1. Reviewing the current structures of and relationships among the Maine Health Data Organization, the Maine Health Data Processing Center and Onpoint Health Data in order to evaluate the timeliness and effectiveness of the data received;

2. Reviewing the current purposes and uses of the data and limitations on access to the data and considering additional uses for the data and changes that might be necessary to achieve and facilitate additional uses;

3. Considering federal and state privacy and security laws regarding the use and release of protected health information, including policy and technical changes needed to allow increased access to protected health information and the feasibility of those changes; and

4. Considering the availability of the data, the most appropriate sources of the data and the cost of providing the data; and be it further

Sec. 5. Funding and staffing. Resolved: That the department shall provide staffing assistance to the working group through contracted professional services and shall seek outside nonstate funding to support staffing services and administrative costs for the working group. If adequate funding is not obtained, the working group may not convene or incur any expenses; and be it further

Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That, by January 31, 2012, the department shall report the recommendations based on the findings and conclusions, determined by vote, of the working group, along with any recommended implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services.