PUBLIC Law, Chapter 244, An Act To Establish Transparency in Primary Health Care Spending

An Act To Establish Transparency in Primary Health Care Spending

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §6903, sub-§13-B is enacted to read:

13-B. Primary care. "Primary care" means regular check-ups, wellness and general health care provided by a provider with whom a patient has initial contact for a health issue, not including an urgent care or emergency health issue, and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist.

Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §6951, sub-§12 is enacted to read:

12. Primary care reporting. Beginning January 15, 2020 and annually thereafter, the forum shall submit to the Department of Health and Human Services and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage and health insurance matters a report on primary care spending using claims data from the Maine Health Data Organization and information on the methods used to reimburse primary care providers requested annually from payors, as defined in Title 22, section 8702, subsection 8. The report must include:

A. Of their respective total medical expenditures, the percentage paid for primary care by commercial insurers, the MaineCare program, Medicare, the organization that administers health insurance for state employees and the Maine Education Association benefits trust and the average percentage of total medical expenditures paid for primary care across all payors; and

B. The methods used by commercial insurers, the MaineCare program, Medicare, the organization that administers health insurance for state employees and the Maine Education Association benefits trust to pay for primary care.

Sec. 3. Maine Quality Forum to conduct health spending reporting study. The Maine Quality Forum, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24-A, section 6951, shall consult with other state and national agencies and organizations to determine the best practices for reporting spending on primary care services by insurers. For purposes of this section, "primary care" means regular check-ups, wellness and general health care provided by a health care provider with whom a patient has initial contact for a health issue, not including an urgent care or emergency health issue, and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

SP0421 LD 1353	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 244 on - Session - 129th Maine Legislature
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