‘Resolve, To Address the Funding Needs of Air and Ground Emergency and Critical Care Emergency Medical Services’

‘Sec. 1. Working group and report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall convene a working group that includes the Department of Public Safety, Maine Emergency Medical Services; representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance; and representatives of providers of air and ground emergency and critical care emergency medical services. The working group shall review costs of emergency response services and emergency and nonemergency transportation services; revenues that support the work of the service providers, including fee-for-service payments, insurance, Medicare and MaineCare reimbursement; and the cost of readiness and the growing gap between revenues and costs. The working group shall seek outside funding for its work. If outside funding is obtained, the Department of Health and Human Services shall administer the funds and include information on the funding that was obtained and all expenditures and any remaining balance in the report of the working group. By January 15, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services on the findings and the working group and any recommendations for legislation or rulemaking. The joint standing committee may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. This resolve is contingent upon the receipt by the Department of Health and Human Services of outside funding to cover the costs of the working group.’