| B. With respect to any services that MaineCare providers | have rendered prior to the date of adoption of retroactive | rules adopted pursuant to this subsection, such rules may | not reduce or otherwise negatively affect the reimbursement | or other payments that those providers are entitled to | receive under the previously applicable rules. The | reimbursement or other payments under the amended rules must | be equal to or greater than the reimbursement under the | rules previously in effect. The rules may retroactively | increase provider reimbursement on an emergency basis if | needed to ensure that MaineCare members have access to | covered medically necessary services. |
|
| | Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §42, sub-§8, ¶F, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 612, §1, is | repealed. |
|
| | Sec. 3. Continuing improvements in MaineCare program. The MaineCare | Advisory Committee, established pursuant to the MaineCare | Benefits Manual, chapter I, section 1.23, shall review the report | of the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of MaineCare with the | goal of identifying initiatives for the continuing improvement of | the MaineCare program in order to preserve the long-term | capability of the State to provide high quality health care | services to MaineCare beneficiaries. The MaineCare Advisory | Committee shall also review and monitor changes in the federal | Medicaid program and implementation of the provisions of the | federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171. |
|
| | Sec. 4. Report. The MaineCare Advisory Committee shall report to | the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services the | results of its review under section 3 and any recommendations the | committee has for legislation or rulemaking by the Department of | Health and Human Services in an initial report by September 1, | 2006 and a final report by January 1, 2007. The report must | identify strategies that ensure the sustainability of the | MaineCare program while protecting the health and welfare of | MaineCare beneficiaries and the viability of Maine's health care | provider safety net. |
|
| | Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, | this Act takes effect when approved. |
|
|