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An Act To Support Universal Health Care
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§14-I  is enacted to read:
 
14-I.     
Sec. 2.  24-A MRSA c. 95  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 95
MAINE HEALTH PLAN ACT
§ 7501. Short title
This chapter may be known and cited as "the Maine Health Plan Act."
§ 7502. Maine Health Plan
 
1.  Plan established; requirements.     The Maine Health Plan is established in order to keep residents of this State healthy and provide the best quality of health care. The Maine Health Plan must:
 
A.  Ensure all residents of this State are covered;
 
B.  Cover all necessary care, including dental, vision and hearing, mental health, chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies, long-term care and home care;
 
C.  Allow patients to choose their providers;
 
D.  Reduce costs by cutting administrative bureaucracy, not by restricting or denying care;
 
E.  Set premiums based on ability to pay;
 
F.  Focus on preventive care and early intervention to improve health;
 
G.  Ensure that there are enough health care providers to guarantee timely access to care;
 
H.  Continue the State's leadership in medical education, research and technology;
 
I.  Provide adequate and timely payments to providers; and
 
J.  Use a simple funding and payment system.
 
2.  Purpose.     The Maine Health Plan must provide all medically necessary health care services for all residents of this State in a manner that meets the requirements of this chapter.
 
3.  Definitions.     As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
A.  "Institutional provider" means an inpatient hospital, nursing facility, rehabilitation facility or other health care facility that provides overnight care.
 
B.  "Maine Health Board" or "board" means the Maine Health Board as established in section 7510.
 
C.  "Maine Health Fund" or "fund" means the Maine Health Fund as established in section 7506.
 
D.  "Maine Health Plan" or "plan" means the Maine Health Plan as established in subsection 1.
 
E.  "Medically necessary" means, with regard to services or supplies, needed to promote health and to prevent, diagnose or treat a particular patient's medical condition and meeting accepted standards of medical practice within a provider's professional peer group and geographic region.
 
F.  "Noninstitutional provider" means an individual provider, group practice, clinic, outpatient surgical center, imaging center or other health care facility that does not provide overnight care.
§ 7503. Eligibility
 
1.  Residency.     All residents of this State are eligible for the Maine Health Plan.
 
2.  Enrollment; identification.     The Maine Health Board shall establish a procedure to enroll residents and provide each with identification that may be used by health care providers to confirm eligibility for services. The application for enrollment must be no more than 2 pages.
 
3.  Residents temporarily out of state.     The Maine Health Plan must provide health care coverage to residents of this State who are temporarily out of the State who intend to return and reside in the State. Coverage for emergency care obtained out of the State must be at prevailing local rates. Coverage for nonemergency care obtained out of the State must be according to rates and conditions established by the board. The board may require that a resident be transported back to the State when prolonged treatment of an emergency condition is necessary and when that transport will not adversely affect a patient's care or condition.
 
4.  Visitors.     Nonresidents visiting the State must be billed by the board for all services received under the Maine Health Plan. The board may enter into intergovernmental arrangements or contracts with other states and countries to provide reciprocal coverage for temporary visitors.
 
5.  Nonresident employed in State.     The board shall extend eligibility for the plan to nonresidents employed in this State under a premium schedule set by the board.
 
6.  Business outside of State employing residents of State.     The board shall apply for a federal waiver to collect the employer contribution mandated by federal law.
 
7.  Retiree benefits.     All persons who are eligible for retiree medical benefits under an employer-employee contract remain eligible for those benefits as long as the contractually mandated payments for those benefits are made to the Maine Health Fund, which assumes financial responsibility for care provided under the terms of the contract along with additional health benefits covered by the Maine Health Plan. Retirees who elect to reside out of the State are eligible for benefits under the terms and conditions of the retirees' employer-employee contract. The board may establish financial arrangements with states and foreign countries in order to facilitate meeting the terms of the contracts described in this subsection. Payments for care provided by providers out of the State to retirees of this State must be reimbursed at rates established by the Maine Health Board. Providers who accept any payment from the Maine Health Plan for a covered service may not bill the patient for the covered service.
 
8.  Presumptive eligibility.     The following provisions apply.
 
A.  An individual is presumed eligible for coverage under the Maine Health Plan if the individual arrives at a health care facility unconscious, comatose or otherwise unable, because of the individual's physical or mental condition, to document eligibility or to act on the individual's own behalf. If the patient is a minor, the patient is presumed eligible, and the health care facility shall provide care as if the patient were eligible.
 
B.  An individual is presumed eligible when brought to a health care facility licensed in this State for emergency care and treatment in accordance with any provision of law providing for involuntary care and treatment.
 
C.  Any individual involuntarily committed to an acute psychiatric facility or to a hospital with psychiatric beds in accordance with any provision of law providing for involuntary commitment is presumed eligible.
 
D.  All health care facilities subject to state and federal provisions governing emergency medical treatment must comply with those provisions.
 
9.  Data.     Data collected because an individual applies for or is enrolled in the Maine Health Plan are confidential, but may be released to:
 
A.  Providers for purposes of confirming enrollment and processing payments for benefits; or
 
B.  The State Auditor for purposes of the duties of that office.
§ 7504. Benefits
 
1.  General provisions.     Any eligible individual may choose to receive services under the Maine Health Plan from any participating provider.
 
2.  Covered benefits.     Covered health care benefits in this chapter include all medically necessary care, subject to the limitations specified in this chapter. Covered health care benefits for Maine Health Plan enrollees include:
 
A.  Inpatient and outpatient health care facility services;
 
B.  Inpatient and outpatient professional health care provider services;
 
C.  Diagnostic imaging, laboratory services and other diagnostic and evaluative services;
 
D.  Medical equipment, appliances and assistive technology, including prosthetics, eyeglasses and hearing aids and repair, technical support and customization needed for individual use;
 
E.  Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care;
 
F.  Emergency care services;
 
G.  Emergency transportation;
 
H.  Necessary transportation for health care services for persons with disabilities or who may qualify as persons with low income;
 
I.  Child and adult immunizations and preventive care;
 
J.  Health and wellness education;
 
K.  Hospice care;
 
L.  Care in a skilled nursing facility;
 
M.  Home health care including health care provided in an assisted living facility;
 
N.  Mental health services;
 
O.  Substance use disorder treatment;
 
P.  Dental care;
 
Q.  Vision care;
 
R.  Hearing care;
 
S.  Prescription drugs;
 
T.  Podiatric care;
 
U.  Chiropractic care;
 
V.  Acupuncture;
 
W.  Therapies that are shown by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health to be safe and effective;
 
X.  Blood and blood products;
 
Y.  Dialysis;
 
Z.  Adult day care;
 
AA.  Rehabilitative and habilitative services;
 
BB.  Ancillary health care or social services previously covered by the State's public health programs;
 
CC.  Case management and care coordination;
 
DD.  Language interpretation and translation for health care services, including sign language and Braille or other services needed for individuals with communication barriers; and
 
EE.  Those health care and long-term supportive services covered under the laws of this State for persons receiving medical assistance from the State, including home and community-based services provided under the MaineCare program or funded by the State.
 
3.  Benefit expansion.     The Maine Health Board may expand health care benefits beyond the minimum benefits described in this section when expansion meets the intent of this chapter and when there are sufficient funds to cover the expansion.
 
4.  Cost sharing for the room and board portion of long-term care.     The Maine Health Board shall develop income and asset qualifications based on state medical assistance standards for covered benefits. All health care services for long-term care in a skilled nursing facility or assisted living facility are fully covered but room and board costs may be charged to patients who do not meet income and asset qualifications.
 
5.  Exclusions.     The following health care services may be excluded from coverage by the Maine Health Plan:
 
A.  Health care services determined to have no medical benefit by the board;
 
B.  Treatments and procedures primarily for cosmetic purposes, unless:
 
(1) Required to correct a congenital defect or restore or correct a part of the body that has been altered as a result of injury, disease or surgery; or
 
(2) Determined to be medically necessary by a qualified, licensed health care provider in the Maine Health Plan; and
 
C.  Services of a health care provider or facility that is not licensed or accredited by the State, except for approved services provided to a resident of this State who is temporarily out of the State and for approved services provided to a resident of this State if the services of a health care provider or facility in the State are not available to provide those services.
§ 7505. Patient care
 
1.  Primary care.     All patients are entitled to have a primary care provider and have access to care coordination.
 
2.  Referrals not required.     Referrals are not required for a patient to see a health care specialist. If a patient sees a specialist and does not have a primary care provider, the Maine Health Plan may assist with choosing a primary care provider.
 
3.  Electronic registry.     The board may establish an electronic registry to assist patients in identifying appropriate providers.
§ 7506. Maine Health Fund
 
1.  General provisions.     The board shall establish the Maine Health Fund to implement the Maine Health Plan and to receive premiums and other sources of revenue. The fund must be administered by a director appointed by the Maine Health Board.
 
A.  All money collected, received and transferred according to this chapter must be deposited in the Maine Health Fund.
 
B.  Money deposited in the Maine Health Fund must be used to finance the Maine Health Plan.
 
C.  All claims for health care services rendered must be made to the Maine Health Fund.
 
D.  All payments made for health care services must be disbursed from the Maine Health Fund.
 
E.  Premiums and other revenues collected each year must be sufficient to cover that year's projected costs.
 
2.  Accounts.     The Maine Health Fund must have operating, capital and reserve accounts.
 
3.  Operating account.     The operating account in the Maine Health Fund comprises the accounts specified in this subsection.
 
A.  The medical services account must be used to provide for all medical services and benefits covered under the Maine Health Plan.
 
B.  The prevention account must be used to establish and maintain primary community prevention programs, including preventive screening tests.
 
C.  The program administration, evaluation, planning and assessment account must be used to monitor and improve the plan's effectiveness and operations. The board may establish grant programs including demonstration projects for this purpose.
 
D.  The training and development account must be used to incentivize the training and development of health care providers and the health care workforce needed to meet the health care needs of the population.
 
E.  The health service research account must be used to support research and innovation as determined by the Maine Health Board.
 
4.  Capital account.     The capital account must be used to pay for capital expenditures for institutional providers.
 
5.  Reserve account.     The Maine Health Plan must at all times hold in reserve an amount estimated in the aggregate to provide for the payment of all losses and claims for which the Maine Health Plan may be liable and to provide for the expense of adjustment or settlement of losses and claims. Money currently held in reserve by state, city and county health programs must be transferred to the Maine Health Fund when the Maine Health Plan replaces those programs. The board shall adopt rules to insure the Maine Health Plan against unforeseen expenditures or revenue shortfalls not covered by the reserve account. The board may borrow money to cover temporary shortfalls.
§ 7507. Revenue sources
 
1.  Maine Health Plan premium.     The Maine Health Board shall:
 
A.  Determine the aggregate cost of providing health care according to this chapter;
 
B.  Develop an equitable and affordable premium structure based on income, including unearned income, and a business health tax based on payroll;
 
C.  In consultation with the State Tax Assessor, develop an efficient means of collecting premiums and the business health tax developed under paragraph B;
 
D.  Coordinate with existing, ongoing funding sources from federal and state programs;
 
E.  Base the premium structure developed under paragraph B on ability to pay; and
 
F.  On or before January 15, 2021, submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report on the premium structure and business health tax developed under paragraph B to finance the Maine Health Plan.
 
2.  Federal receipts.     All federal funding received by the State, including the premium subsidies under the federal Affordable Care Act, is appropriated to the Maine Health Fund to be used to administer the Maine Health Plan under this chapter. Federal funding that is received for implementing and administering the Maine Health Plan must be used to provide health care for residents of this State.
 
3.  Funds from outside sources.     Institutional providers operating under Maine Health Plan operating budgets may raise and expend funds from sources other than the Maine Health Plan including private donors. Contributions to institutional providers in excess of $500,000 must be reported to the board.
 
4.  Governmental payments.     The Governor and, if required under federal law, the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements and legislation so that all applicable federal payments to the State, including the premium tax credits under the federal Affordable Care Act, are paid directly to the Maine Health Fund. When all required waivers, exemptions, agreements and legislation are obtained, the Maine Health Plan assumes responsibility for all health care benefits and health care services previously paid for with federal funds. In obtaining the waivers, exemptions, agreements or legislation, the Governor and, if required, commissioners shall seek from the Federal Government a contribution for health care services in the State that reflects: medical inflation, the state gross domestic product, the size and age of the population of the State, the number of residents of the State living below the poverty level and the number of individuals in this State eligible for Medicare and services from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and that does not decrease in relation to the federal contributions to other states as a result of the waivers, exemptions, agreements or savings from implementation of the Maine Health Plan.
 
5.  Federal preemption.     The board shall seek to secure a repeal or a waiver of any provision of federal law that preempts any provision of this chapter. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall provide all necessary assistance. In the application for an innovation waiver under Section 1332 of the federal Affordable Care Act, the board shall request to waive any of the following provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act to the extent necessary to implement this Act:
 
A.  In 42 United States Code, Sections 18021 to 18024;
 
B.  In 42 United States Code, Sections 18031 to 18033;
 
C.  In 42 United States Code, Section 18071; and
 
D.  In 26 United States Code, Sections 36B and 5000A.
 
In the event that a repeal or a waiver of law or regulations cannot be secured, the board shall adopt rules, or seek conforming state legislation, consistent with federal law, in an effort to best fulfill the purposes of this chapter.
 
6.  Secondary to federal government programs.     The Maine Health Plan's responsibility for providing care is secondary to existing federal government programs for health care services to the extent that funding for these programs is not transferred to the Maine Health Fund or that the transfer is delayed beyond the date on which initial benefits are provided under the Maine Health Plan.
 
7.  No cost sharing.     Except as provided in section 7504, subsection 4, no deductible, copayment, coinsurance or other cost sharing may be imposed with respect to covered benefits.
§ 7508. Subrogation
 
1.  Collateral source.     When other payers for health care have been terminated, health care costs must be collected from collateral sources whenever medical services provided to an individual are, or may be, covered services under a policy of insurance, or other collateral source available to that individual, or when the individual has a right of action for compensation permitted under law.
 
A.  As used in this section, "collateral source" includes:
 
(1) Health insurance policies and the medical components of automobile, homeowner's and other forms of insurance;
 
(2) Medical components of workers' compensation;
 
(3) Pension plans;
 
(4) Employer plans;
 
(5) Employee benefit contracts;
 
(6) Government benefit programs;
 
(7) A judgment for damages for personal injury;
 
(8) The state of last domicile for individuals moving to the State for medical care who have extraordinary medical needs; and
 
(9) Any 3rd party who is or may be liable to an individual for health care services or costs.
 
B.  As used in this section, "collateral source" does not include:
 
(1) A contract or plan that is subject to federal preemption; or
 
(2) Any governmental unit, agency or service to the extent that subrogation is prohibited by law. An entity described in paragraph A is not excluded from the obligations imposed by this section by virtue of a contract or relationship with a governmental unit, agency or service.
 
C.  The board shall negotiate waivers, seek federal legislation or make other arrangements to incorporate collateral sources into the Maine Health Plan.
 
2.  Notification.     When an individual who receives health care services under the Maine Health Plan is entitled to coverage, reimbursement, indemnity or other compensation from a collateral source, the individual shall notify the health care provider and provide information identifying the collateral source, the nature and extent of coverage or entitlement and other relevant information. The health care provider shall forward this information to the board. The individual entitled to coverage, reimbursement, indemnity or other compensation from a collateral source shall provide additional information as requested by the board.
 
3.  Reimbursement.     The Maine Health Board shall seek reimbursement from the collateral source for services provided to the individual and may institute appropriate action, including legal proceedings, to recover the reimbursement. Upon demand, the collateral source shall pay to the Maine Health Fund the sums it would have paid or expended on behalf of the individual for the health care services provided by the Maine Health Plan.
 
A.  In addition to any other right to recovery provided in this section, the board has the same right to recover the reasonable value of health care benefits from a collateral source as provided to the Commissioner of Health and Human Services.
 
B.  If a collateral source is exempt from subrogation or the obligation to reimburse the Maine Health Plan, the board may require that an individual who is entitled to medical services from the source first seek those services from that source before seeking those services from the Maine Health Plan.
 
C.  To the extent permitted by federal law, the board has the same right of subrogation over contractual retiree health care benefits provided by employers as other contracts, allowing the Maine Health Plan to recover the cost of health care services provided to individuals covered by the retiree benefits, unless arrangements are made to transfer the revenues of the health care benefits directly to the Maine Health Fund.
 
4.  Defaults, underpayments and late payments.     Default, underpayment or late payment of any tax or other obligation imposed by this chapter results in the remedies and penalties provided by law, except as provided in this section. Eligibility for health care benefits under this chapter may not be impaired by any default, underpayment or late payment of any premium or other obligation imposed by this chapter.
§ 7509. Provider payments
 
1.  General provisions.     All health care providers licensed to practice in this State, and other providers as determined by the board, may participate in the Maine Health Plan. A participating health care provider shall comply with all federal laws and regulations governing referral fees and fee splitting, including, but not limited to, 42 United States Code, Sections 1320a-7b and 1395nn, whether reimbursed by federal funds or not. A fee schedule or financial incentive may not adversely affect the care a patient receives or the care a health care provider recommends.
 
2.  Payments to noninstitutional providers.     The Maine Health Board shall establish and oversee a fair and efficient payment system for noninstitutional providers in accordance with this subsection.
 
A.  The board shall pay noninstitutional providers based on rates negotiated with providers. Rates must take into account the need to address provider shortages.
 
B.  The board shall establish payment criteria and methods of payment for care coordination for patients, especially those with chronic illness and complex medical needs.
 
C.  Providers who accept any payment from the Maine Health Plan for a covered health care service may not bill the patient for the covered health care service.
 
D.  Providers must be paid within 30 business days for claims filed following procedures established by the board.
 
3.  Payments to institutional providers.     The board shall set annual budgets for institutional providers. These budgets must consist of an operating and a capital budget. An institution's annual budget must be set to cover its anticipated health care services for the next year based on past performance and projected changes in prices and health care service levels. The annual budget for each individual institutional provider must be set separately. The board may not set a joint budget for a group of more than one institutional provider nor for a parent corporation that owns or operates one or more institutional providers.
 
4.  No balance billing.     Providers who accept any payment from the Maine Health Plan for a covered health care service may not bill the patient for the covered health care service.
 
5.  Capital investment plan.     The board shall periodically develop a capital investment plan that will serve as a guide in determining the annual budgets of institutional providers and in deciding whether to approve applications for approval of capital expenditures by noninstitutional providers. Providers who propose to make capital purchases in excess of $500,000 must obtain board approval. The board may alter the threshold expenditure level that triggers the requirement to submit information on capital expenditures. Institutional providers shall propose these expenditures and submit the required information as part of the annual budget they submit to the board. Noninstitutional providers shall submit applications for approval of these expenditures to the board. The board shall respond to capital expenditure applications in a timely manner.
§ 7510. Maine Health Board
 
1.  Establishment.     The Maine Health Board is established to promote the delivery of high-quality, coordinated health care services that enhance health; prevent illness, disease and disability; slow the progression of chronic diseases; and improve personal health management. The board shall administer the Maine Health Plan.
 
2.  Board composition.     The board consists of 17 members, appointed by the Governor subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage matters and to confirmation by the Legislature, as follows:
 
A.  Five patient members and 5 employer members; and
 
B.  Seven providers that include 3 physicians, at least one of whom must be a primary care physician, one registered nurse, one mental health provider, one dentist and one health care facility director.
 
3.  Term and compensation; selection of chair.     Board members serve 4-year terms. Board members shall set the board's compensation at an amount not to exceed the compensation of Public Utilities Commission members. The board shall select the chair from its membership.
 
4.  General duties.     The board shall:
 
A.  Ensure that all of the requirements of this chapter are met;
 
B.  Hire a chief executive officer for the Maine Health Plan to administer all aspects of the plan as directed by the board;
 
C.  Hire a director for the Maine Health Fund;
 
D.  Conduct necessary investigations and inquiries and require the submission of information, documents and records the board considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
 
E.  Establish a process for the board to receive the concerns, opinions, ideas and recommendations of the public regarding all aspects of the Maine Health Plan and establish the means of addressing those concerns;
 
F.  Establish regional planning boards to assist the board in carrying out its duties;
 
G.  Establish an ombudsman position to represent the interests of consumers of health care and to advocate on behalf of consumers;
 
H.  Establish a grievance process for complaints by enrollees in the Maine Health Plan;
 
I.  Conduct other activities the board considers necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter;
 
J.  Collaborate with the agencies that license health care facilities to ensure that facility performance is monitored and that deficient practices are recognized and corrected in a timely manner;
 
K.  Adopt rules as necessary to carry out the duties assigned under this chapter;
 
L.  Establish conflict-of-interest standards prohibiting providers from any financial benefit from their medical decisions outside of board reimbursement;
 
M.  Establish conflict-of-interest standards related to pharmaceutical marketing to providers;
 
N.  Require that all electronic health records used by providers be fully interoperable with the open-source electronic health records system used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and
 
O.  Provide financial help and assistance in retraining and job placement to the state workers who may be displaced because of the administrative efficiencies of the Maine Health Plan. To alleviate staffing displacements in the medical field, the displaced worker support program must emphasize retraining and placement into health care-related positions if appropriate. As residents of this State, all displaced workers must be covered under the Maine Health Plan.
 
5.  Waiver request duties.     Before submitting an application for an innovation waiver under Section 1332 of the federal Affordable Care Act, the board shall do the following, as required by federal law:
 
A.  Conduct or contract for any necessary actuarial analyses and actuarial certifications needed to support the board's estimates that the waiver will comply with the comprehensive coverage, affordability and scope of coverage requirements in federal law;
 
B.  Conduct or contract for any necessary economic analyses needed to support the board's estimates that the waiver will comply with the comprehensive coverage, affordability, scope of coverage and federal deficit requirements in federal law. These analyses must include:
 
(1) A detailed 10-year budget plan; and
 
(2) A detailed analysis regarding the estimated impact of the waiver on health insurance coverage in the State;
 
C.  Establish a detailed draft implementation timeline for the waiver; and
 
D.  Establish quarterly, annual and cumulative targets for the comprehensive coverage, affordability, scope of coverage and federal deficit requirements in federal law.
 
6.  Financial duties.     The board shall:
 
A.  Establish and collect premiums and the business health tax according to this chapter;
 
B.  Approve statewide and regional budgets that include budgets for accounts in accordance with this chapter;
 
C.  Negotiate and establish payment rates for providers;
 
D.  Monitor compliance with all budgets and payment rates;
 
E.  Pay claims for medical products or services as negotiated, and may issue requests for proposals from state nonprofit business corporations for a contract to process claims;
 
F.  Seek federal approval to bill other states for health care coverage provided to residents from out of the State who come to the State for long-term care or other costly treatment when the resident's home state fails to provide such coverage, unless a reciprocal agreement with those states to provide similar coverage to residents of this State relocating to those states is negotiated;
 
G.  Administer the Maine Health Fund;
 
H.  Annually determine the appropriate level for the Maine Health Plan reserve account under section 7506, subsection 5 and implement policies needed to establish the appropriate reserve;
 
I.  Implement fraud prevention measures necessary to protect the operation of the Maine Health Plan; and
 
J.  Work to ensure appropriate cost control by:
 
(1) Instituting aggressive public health measures, early intervention and preventive care, health and wellness education and promotion of personal health improvement;
 
(2) Making changes in the delivery of health care services and administration that improve efficiency and care quality;
 
(3) Minimizing administrative costs;
 
(4) Ensuring that the delivery system does not contain excess capacity; and
 
(5) Negotiating the lowest possible prices for prescription drugs, medical equipment and medical services.
 
If the board determines that there will be a revenue shortfall despite the cost control measures mentioned in paragraph J, the board shall implement measures to correct the shortfall, including an increase in premiums and other revenues. The board shall report to the Legislature on the causes of the shortfall, reasons for the inadequacy of cost controls and measures taken to correct the shortfall.
 
7.  Management duties.     The board shall:
 
A.  Develop and implement enrollment procedures for the Maine Health Plan;
 
B.  Implement eligibility standards for the Maine Health Plan;
 
C.  Arrange for health care to be provided at convenient locations, including ensuring the availability of school nurses so that all students have access to health care, immunizations and preventive care at public schools and encouraging providers to open small health clinics at larger workplaces and retail centers;
 
D.  Establish an electronic claims and payments system for the Maine Health Plan;
 
E.  Monitor the operation of the Maine Health Plan through consumer surveys and regular data collection and evaluation activities, including evaluations of the adequacy and quality of services furnished under the program, the need for changes in the benefit package, the cost of each type of service and the effectiveness of cost control measures under the program;
 
F.  Disseminate information and establish a health care website to provide information to the public about the Maine Health Plan;
 
G.  Collaborate with public health agencies, schools and community clinics;
 
H.  Ensure that Maine Health Plan policies and providers, including public health providers, support all residents of this State in achieving and maintaining optimum physical and mental health; and
 
I.  Annually report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and financial services matters on the performance of the Maine Health Plan, the fund's fiscal condition and need for payment adjustments, recommendations for statutory changes, receipt of revenue from all sources, whether current year goals and priorities are met, future goals and priorities, major new technology or prescription drugs and other circumstances that may affect the cost or quality of health care.
 
8.  Policy duties.     The board shall:
 
A.  Develop and implement cost control and quality assurance procedures;
 
B.  Implement policies to ensure strong public health services including education and community-based preventive health care and clinical services;
 
C.  Implement policies to ensure a continuum of coordinated high-quality primary to tertiary care to all residents of this State; and
 
D.  Implement policies to ensure that all residents of this State receive culturally and linguistically competent care.
 
9.  Self-insurance.     The board shall determine the feasibility of self-insuring providers for malpractice and shall establish a self-insurance system and create a special fund for payment of losses incurred if the board determines self-insuring providers would reduce costs.
 
10.  Audit.     The Maine Health Plan must be audited annually by the State Auditor. The board may, in its discretion, arrange for an independent audit to be conducted. A copy of the audit must be provided to the State Controller, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage matters.
§ 7511. Implementation
The Maine Health Plan must be operational beginning January 1, 2023. Beginning on the date the Maine Health Plan becomes operational, a health plan may not be sold in this State for services provided by the Maine Health Plan.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Maine Health Plan to provide universal health care coverage to all residents of this State. The bill is modeled on proposed legislation considered in Minnesota.