F.__The project protects the public health and safety.

In making a determination under this subsection, the commissioner shall use data available in the state health plan State Health Plan under Title 2, section 103, including demographic, health care service and health care cost data, data from the Maine Health Data Organization established in chapter 1683 and other information available to the commissioner. Particular weight must be given to information that indicates that the proposed health services are innovations in high quality high-quality health care delivery, that the proposed health services are not reasonably available in the proposed area and that the facility proposing the new health services is designed to provide excellent quality health care.

In making all determinations under this subsection, the commissioner shall consider the State Health Plan as described in Title 2, section 103.

SUMMARY

This bill provides coordination among the State Health Plan and the capital investment fund, adopted by the Governor under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 2, chapter 5, and the certificate of need process under Title 22, chapter 103-A as follows.

1. It clarifies that the capital investment fund serves as a limit for allocating resources under the certificate of need program.

2. It specifies that demographic, health care service and health care cost data must be used by the Governor in drafting the State Health Plan. It requires that the State Health Plan be consistent with the requirements of the certificate of need program. It requires review of the process for the development of the State Health Plan and the plan itself by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters prior to its being finalized and issued by the Governor.

3. It specifies that demographic, health care service and health care cost data must be used by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services in making determinations regarding issuance of