Sec. 1. Reimbursement; community and Indian health center costs. The Department of Health and Human Services shall reimburse 28 community and Indian health centers for uncollectible, outstanding patient accounts receivable. Each health center must document the uncollectible debt prior to reimbursement. The department shall adopt routine technical rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this Act.

Sec. 2. Dirigo Health Fund. On July 1st each year, the State Controller shall credit to the purchased social services account of the Department of Health and Human Services 10% of the account balance in the Dirigo Health Fund, established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24-A, section 6915, on June 30th, the last day of the preceding state fiscal year. The full amount transferred under this section must be used by the department for grants to the 28 community and Indian health centers under section 1 to support their work, except that a health center may not receive a grant under this provision for more than 10% of its operating expenditures.

Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Bureau of Medical Services

Initiative: Provides funds to reimburse 28 community and Indian health centers for uncollectible, outstanding patient accounts receivable.

GENERAL FUND 2005-06 2006-07

All Other $2,800,000 $0

__________

GENERAL FUND TOTAL $2,800,000

SUMMARY

This bill provides funding to reimburse 28 community and Indian health centers for uncollectible, outstanding patient accounts receivable. It provides for grants to those centers totaling up to 10% of the balance remaining in the account of the Dirigo Health Fund on June 30th of each year.