10.__Resident.__"Resident" means a person who resides within the State as defined by rules adopted by the agency pursuant to section 376, subsection 1.

11.__Small Business Hardship Fund.__"Small Business Hardship Fund" means the fund created by section 374, subsection 1, paragraph A as part of the Maine Health Care Trust Fund.

SUBCHAPTER 2

ENSURING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

§372.__Maine Health Care Plan

The Maine Health Care Plan is established to provide security through high-quality, affordable health care for the people of the State.__The plan must offer health care services beginning July 1, 2006, and the agency shall administer and oversee the plan in accordance with this chapter.

1.__Goals of Maine Health Care Plan.__The plan has the following goals:

A.__To eliminate income-based disparity in the health care status of citizens of the State;

B.__To reduce the rate of growth in the cost of health care services;

C.__To reduce waste and inefficiency in the administration of health care services and health insurance;

D.__To increase access to primary and preventive health care services;

E.__To reduce the number of excessively expensive health care procedures and eliminate unnecessary and harmful procedures;

F.__To promote cooperation among communities and providers of health care, to eliminate cost-accelerating practices, to coordinate the delivery of care and use of technology and equipment and to increase quality and cost efficiency;