Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §8704, sub-§12 is enacted to read:

12.__Outcomes and clinical pathways.__The board shall collaborate with other agencies, professional associations and entities working in the field of health care data, utilization, cost and quality to evaluate outcomes and clinical pathways and to provide information to the public as a result of that collaboration.

Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §8707, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

6.__Easy access to information.__The board shall release health data to the public in a format that is easy and convenient for the public to access and understand and post that data on the Internet.

Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §8708, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 653, Pt. A, §2 and affected by §7, is amended to read:

7. Authority to obtain information. Nothing in this section may be construed to limit the board's authority to obtain information that it considers necessary to carry out its duties. Beginning January 1, 2004, the board shall require the submission of data from all health care payors, carriers, 3rd-party administrators and providers in order to obtain information regarding total health care system utilization, costs and revenues.

SUMMARY

This bill expands the data collection duties of the Maine Health Data Organization in order to foster understanding of the total health care system. It requires the organization to release information to the public in a user-friendly manner. It requires the organization to work to evaluate outcomes and clinical pathways. It requires a new State Health Planning Commission to develop a new statewide health plan by November 1, 2003 and every 2 years thereafter and to report to the Legislature and the Department of Human Services once every 2 years.