Sec. 8. 24-A MRSA §4235, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 477, Pt. D, §12 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:

§4235. Standardized claim forms

On or after December 1, 1993, all All health maintenance organizations providing payment or reimbursement for diagnosis or treatment of a condition or a complaint by a licensed physician or chiropractor must accept the current standardized claim form for professional services approved by the Federal Government. On or after December 1, 1993, all All health maintenance organizations providing payment or reimbursement for diagnosis or treatment of a condition or a complaint by a licensed hospital must accept the current standardized claim form for professional or facility services, as applicable, approved by the Federal Government. A health maintenance organization may not be required to accept a claim submitted on a form other than the applicable form specified in this section.

Sec. 9. 24-A MRSA §4303, sub-§§9 and 10 are enacted to read:

9.__Notice of amendments to provider agreements.__A carrier offering a health plan in this State shall notify a participating provider of a proposed amendment to a provider agreement at least 60 days prior to the amendment's proposed effective date.__If an amendment that has substantial impact on the rights and obligations of providers is made to a manual, policy or procedure document referenced in the provider agreement, such as material changes to fee schedules or material changes to procedural coding rules specified in the manual, policy or procedure document, the carrier shall provide 60 days' notice to the provider.__After the 60-day notice period has expired, the amendment to a manual, policy or procedure document becomes effective and binding on both the carrier and the provider subject to any applicable termination provisions in the provider agreement, except that the carrier and provider may mutually agree to waive the 60-day notice requirement.__This subsection may not be construed to limit the ability of a carrier and provider to mutually agree to the proposed change at any time after the provider has received notice of the proposed amendment.

10.__Limits on retrospective denials.__A carrier offering a health plan in this State may not impose on any provider any