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A. Each health care practitioner, as defined in the Maine | Revised Statutes, Title 24, section 2502, subsection 1-A, is | asked to limit the growth of net revenue of the practitioner's | practice to 3% for the practitioner's fiscal year beginning | July 1, 2003 and ending June 30, 2004. |
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| B. Each hospital licensed under Title 22, chapter 405 is | asked to voluntarily restrain cost increases, measured as | expenses per case mix adjusted discharge, to no more than | 3.5% for the hospital fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 and | ending June 30, 2004. Each hospital is asked to voluntarily | hold hospital consolidated operating margins to no more than | 3% for the hospital's fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 and | ending June 30, 2004. |
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| C. Each health insurance carrier licensed in this State is | asked to voluntarily limit the pricing of products it sells | in this State to the level that supports no more than 3% | underwriting gain less federal taxes for the carrier's | fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 and ending June 30, 2004. |
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| | 2. Report. By January 1, 2004, the Maine Hospital | Association and the Governor's Office of Health Policy and | Finance shall agree on a timetable, format and methodology for | the hospital association to report on hospital charges, cost | efficiency and consolidated operating margins. In accordance | with the agreement, the Maine Hospital Association shall report | to the Governor and the joint standing committee having | jurisdiction over health and human services matters. |
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| | Sec. F-2. MaineCare report. The Department of Human Services shall | conduct a comprehensive review of reimbursement rates in the | MaineCare program and shall report the results of that review to | the joint standing committee of the Legislature having | jurisdiction over health and human services matters by January | 15, 2005. The review must provide opportunity for input from | health care consumers, providers, practitioners and insurance | carriers and must include consideration of the costs of providing | health care in different settings, reflecting the recovery offset | in bad debt and charity care, and a review of rates paid in other | states and by insurance carriers and the Medicare program. The | review must also identify options and costs for increasing rates | and must propose strategies for achieving stated priorities. The | joint standing committee having jurisdiction over health and | human services matters may report out legislation on MaineCare | provider rates to the First Regular Session of the 122nd | Legislature. |
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| | Sec. F-3. Commission to Study Maine's Community Hospitals. |
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