Care Coordination/Care Management in Maine
Maine law encourages patients to play a role in making their own health-related decisions by requiring certain health care providers and facilities to provide periodic patient assessments and create a service plan and/or care plan for the individual.1 The law also allows minor patients to participate in their own care by allowing minors to consent to health treatments, subject to certain restrictions.2
The state also sets forth specific patient and consumer rights with regard to health care. Maine has established a Consumer Health Care Division within the Bureau of Insurance in order to inform health plan consumers of their rights and responsibilities.3 Hospitals are required to provide patients with average charges for services, if requested,4 and an itemized bill upon request.5 Health insurers in the state of Maine are also obligated to provide consumers with a Bill of Rights outlining benefits, review procedures, and a description of provider profiling programs.6
In addition, the state has taken a number of steps to increase the quality of health care in Maine. Maine has enacted the Hospital and Health Care Provider Cooperation Act, which allows hospitals and providers to cooperate to enhance the quality of care delivered.7 The state has also passed legislation authorizing the establishment of accountable care organizations, as designed by the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.8 The Maine Quality Forum is another collaborative effort between the state, providers, consumers, and health plans to put out comparative health care quality reports.9 The Quality Forum is an entity within Dirigo Health, which is an independent executive agency that arranges for comprehensive, affordable health care coverage to eligible small employers, and improves health care quality in the state.10
Footnotes
- 1. 10-144-113 ME. CODE R. § 10
- 2. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 22, § 1502
- 3. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 24-A §4321
- 4. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 22 §1718
- 5. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 22 §1712; 10-144-112 ME. Code R. §3.5.7
- 6. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 24-A, § 4303
- 7. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 22 §1842
- 8. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 24 –A §4320-H
- 9. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 24-A §6951
- 10. ME. REV. STAT. tit. 24-A §6902