PART A
‘Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§30-B is enacted to read:
| Health care; data | Maine Health Data Organization Health Information Advisory Committee | Expenses Only | 22 MRSA §8718 |
Sec. A-2. 22 MRSA §42, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 514, §1, is further amended to read:
The department's confidential records may not be open to public inspection, are not public records for purposes of Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1 and may not be examined in any judicial, executive, legislative or other proceeding as to the existence or content of any individual's records obtained by the department.
Exceptions to this subsection include release of medical and epidemiologic information in such a manner that an individual can not be identified; disclosures that are necessary to carry out the provisions of chapter 250; disclosures made upon written authorization by the subject of the record, except as otherwise provided in this section; disclosures that are specifically required for purposes of reporting data to the Maine Health Data Organization as provided for by statute or by rules adopted by the Maine Health Data Organization; and disclosures that are specifically provided for by statute or by departmental rule. The department may participate in a regional or national tracking system as provided in sections 1533 and 8824.
Nothing in this subsection precludes the department, during the data collection phase of an epidemiologic investigation, from refusing to allow the inspection or copying of any record or survey instrument, including any redacted record or survey instrument, containing information pertaining to an identifiable individual that has been collected in the course of that investigation. The department's refusal is not reviewable.
Sec. A-3. 22 MRSA §8703, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2019, c. 470, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-4. 22 MRSA §8712, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 232, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. A-5. 22 MRSA §8712, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. C, §29, is repealed.
Sec. A-6. 22 MRSA §8712, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. C, §29, is repealed.
Sec. A-7. 22 MRSA §8715-A is enacted to read:
§ 8715-A. Reporting on cancer data and vital statistics data
The organization may adopt rules to require the reporting of data from the cancer-incidence registry established pursuant to section 1404 and data related to the registration of vital statistics pursuant to section 2701. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. A-8. 22 MRSA §8718 is enacted to read:
§ 8718. Maine Health Data Organization Health Information Advisory Committee
The Maine Health Data Organization Health Information Advisory Committee, referred to in this section as "the advisory committee," is established in accordance with this section to make recommendations to the organization regarding public reporting of health care trends developed from data reported to the organization pursuant to this chapter.
(1) One member representing consumers of health care;
(2) One member representing providers of health care;
(3) One member representing hospitals;
(4) One member representing employers;
(5) One member representing insurance carriers; and
(6) One member representing the state employee health plan under Title 5, section 285.
PART B
Sec. B-1. 22 MRSA §3173, as amended by PL 1997, c. 676, §1 and PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
The department shall use the multipayor provider database established in section 8719 as its primary source of information to update the department's own data and publicly available information regarding health provider and service directory information, when the information required by the department is already available through the multipayor provider database.
Sec. B-2. 22 MRSA §8704, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 470, §2, is further amended to read:
(1) To use, build and improve upon and coordinate existing data sources and measurement efforts through the integration of data systems and standardization of concepts;
(2) To coordinate the development of a linked public and private sector information system;
(3) To emphasize data that is useful, relevant and not duplicative of existing data;
(4) To minimize the burden on those providing data; and
(5) To preserve the reliability, accuracy and integrity of collected data while ensuring that the data is available in the public domain.
Sec. B-3. 22 MRSA §8719 is enacted to read:
§ 8719. Provider database and service locator tool
Sec. B-4. Development of multipayor provider database. In accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 8719, the Maine Health Data Organization shall develop a plan, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, payors, providers, health care purchasers and representatives of consumers, to develop a broad, multipayor provider database. The organization's objective is to develop reporting, use and structure requirements for a multipayor provider database that will enable carriers to fulfill their obligation to provide timely and accurate provider directories without placing undue, additional administrative burdens on providers and to improve the accuracy and mapping of such data for analytic and consumer service and provider identification purposes. The organization shall consult with other state and national agencies and organizations to determine best and promising practices for the development of the database. The organization shall submit the plan, its findings and any recommendations for suggested legislation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage and insurance matters no later than April 1, 2021. The committee may report out legislation based upon the report to any session of the 130th Legislature.’