4.__Reviewing agencies.__"Reviewing agencies" means the Attorney General, the department and the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance, or its successor, which have joint authority with respect to applications filed under this chapter.

Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §1883, as amended by PL 1995, c. 583, §§3 to 7, is further amended to read:

§1883. Certification for cooperative agreements

1. Authority. A hospital or nonprofit mental health care provider may negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with other hospitals or nonprofit mental health care providers in the State if the likely benefits resulting from the agreements outweigh any disadvantages attributable to a reduction in competition that may result from the agreements.

2. Application for certificate. Parties to a cooperative agreement may apply to the department for a certificate of public advantage governing that cooperative agreement. The application must include an executed written copy of the cooperative agreement and describe the nature and scope of the cooperation in the agreement and any consideration passing to any party under the agreement. A copy of the The application and copies of all additional related materials must be submitted simultaneously to the Attorney General and to the department at the same time reviewing agencies.

2-A. Letter of intent. Parties to a hospital merger agreement who intend to file an application for a certificate of public advantage for the merger transaction shall file a letter of intent describing the proposed merger with the department and the Attorney General the reviewing agencies at least 45 days prior to the filing of the application for a certificate of public advantage.

3. Procedure for review. The following procedures apply to the review of the application by the department.

A. The department reviewing agencies shall review and evaluate the application in accordance with the standards set forth in subsection 4.

B. The department shall furnish copies of any letter of intent, application or decision to a person who requests copies and to a person who registers annually with the department for that purpose. A person may provide the