1. Inventory. Develop an inventory of present health workforce and educational programs; and

2. Research. Develop research and analytical methods for understanding population-based health care needs on an ongoing basis.

Through the forum, the department shall serve as a clearinghouse for information relating to health workforce issues. The department shall use the information gathered through the forum to develop its health policy and planning decisions authorized under this Title and to make appropriate policy recommendations based on its analysis of the health care workforce. The department shall post its annual report and recommendations on a publicly accessible site on the Internet maintained by the department by December 31st of each year, beginning in 2006.

SUMMARY

This bill accomplishes the following.

1. It directs the Department of Labor to compile and post on- line a report on health care occupations.

2. It requires that certain licensed, registered and certified health care workers receive a voluntary survey to allow the collection of data on health care occupations.

3. It adds a representative of the Department of Labor to the health workforce forum established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 257.

4. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to post on its website its recommendations based on its review of the health workforce forum's report.