The advisory council shall meet at least 4 times a year at regular intervals.__It may also meet at other times at the call of the chair or the executive director.

§6958.__Operation

The forum shall conduct its work in an open, transparent manner and make an annual report to the public and recommendations for inclusion in the State Health Plan under Title 2, chapter 5.

§6959.__Forum duties

The forum shall, at a minimum:

1.__Disseminate research.__Collect and disseminate research regarding evidence-based medicine and patient safety to promote the rapid deployment of best practices;

2.__Provider performance.__Adopt a set of measures to compare health care provider performance, working collaboratively with other organizations, including representatives of providers, to collect health care data, analyze performance and disseminate comparative performance information in formats useable to consumers, providers, purchasers and policy makers;

3.__Consumer education.__Conduct consumer education campaigns to assist health care consumers make informed decisions and engage in healthy lifestyles; and

4.__Technology assessments.__Conduct technology assessment reviews to guide the diffusion of new technologies in this State and to make recommendations to the State Health Plan under Title 2, chapter 5 and the certificate of need program under Title 22.

§6960.__Staff support and other assistance

Dirigo Health shall provide staff support and other assistance needed to carry out the forum's duties. Dirigo Health is authorized to contract with the Maine Health Information Center, the Maine Health Data Organization and other entities to assist the forum in the performance of its responsibilities.

Sec. A-10. Effective date. That section of this Part that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 3174-G, subsection 1 takes effect July 1, 2004.