LD 535
pg. 3
Page 2 of 3 An Act To Strengthen Health Data Information and Health Planning LD 535 Title Page
Download Bill Text
LR 592
Item 1

 
any accompanying legislation to the Legislature and to the
department.

 
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.


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