The Maine Quality Forum Advisory Council, referred to in this subchapter as “the advisory council,” is a 17-member body established by Title 5, section 12004?I, subsection 30?A, to advise the forum. Except as provided in section 6907, subsection 2, information obtained by the advisory council is a public record as provided by Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1. [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
1. Appointment; composition. The Governor shall appoint the following members with the approval of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters:
A. Seven members representing providers, including 3 physicians, one registered nurse, one representative of hospitals, one mental health provider and one health care practitioner who is not a physician. The 3 physician members must represent allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, primary care physicians and specialist physicians; [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
B. Four members representing consumers, including one employee who receives health care through a commercially insured product, one representative of organized labor, one representative of a consumer health advocacy group and one representative of the uninsured or MaineCare recipients; [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
C. Four members representing employers, including one member of the State Employee Health Commission, one representative of a private employer with more than 1,000 full-time equivalent employees, one representative of a private employer with 50 to 1,000 full-time employees and one representative of a private employer with fewer than 50 employees; [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
D. One representative of a private health plan; and [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
E. One representative of the MaineCare program. [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
Prior to making appointments to the advisory council, the Governor shall seek nominations from the public and from a statewide allopathic association, a statewide osteopathic association, a statewide hospital association, a statewide nurses association, a statewide health purchasing collaborative, a statewide health management coalition, organized labor, a statewide organization representing consumers advocating for affordable health care, a statewide association representing consumers of mental health services, a national association of retired persons, a statewide citizen action organization, a statewide organization advocating equal justice, a statewide organization representing local chambers of commerce, a statewide organization representing businesses for social responsibility, a statewide small business alliance, a national federation of independent businesses, a statewide association of health plans and other entities as appropriate.

[PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

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Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 6952

  • Board: means the Board of Trustees of Dirigo Health, as established in section 6904. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 6903
  • Chambers: A judge's office.
  • Employer: means the owner or responsible agent of a business authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the business. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 6903
  • Executive director: means the Executive Director of Dirigo Health. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 6903
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Majority: when used in reference to age shall mean the age of 18 and over. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • 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. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 6903
  • Provider: means any person, organization, corporation or association that provides health care services and products and is authorized to provide those services and products under the laws of this State. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A Sec. 6903
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
2. Terms. Members of the advisory council serve 5-year terms except for initial appointments. Initial appointments must include 5 members appointed to 3-year terms, 6 members appointed to 4-year terms and 6 members appointed to 5-year terms. A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.

[PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

3. Compensation. Members of the advisory council are eligible for compensation according to the provisions of Title 5, chapter 379.

[PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

4. Quorum. A quorum is a majority of the members of the advisory council.

[PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

5. Chair and officers. The advisory council shall annually choose one of its members to serve as chair for a one-year term. The advisory council may select other officers and designate their duties.

[PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

6. Meetings. The advisory council shall meet at least 4 times a year at regular intervals and may meet at other times at the call of the chair or the executive director of Dirigo Health. Meetings of the council are public proceedings as provided by Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1.

[PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

7. Duties. The advisory council shall:
A. Convene a group of health care providers to provide input and advice to the council. The council shall invite members broadly representing health care practitioners as defined in Title 24, section 2502, subsection 1?A, health care providers as defined in Title 24, section 2502, subsection 2, federally qualified health centers and pharmacists. Members serve as volunteers and without compensation or reimbursement for expenses; [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
B. Provide expertise in health care quality to assist the board; [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
C. Advise and support the forum by:

(1) Establishing and monitoring, with Dirigo Health, an annual work plan for the forum;
(2) Providing guidance in the adoption of quality and performance measures;
(3) Serving as a liaison between the provider group established in paragraph A and the forum;
(4) Conducting public hearings and meetings; and
(5) Reviewing consumer education materials developed by the forum; [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]
D. Make recommendations regarding quality assurance and quality improvement priorities; and [PL 2011, c. 90, Pt. J, §24 (AMD).]
E. Serve as a liaison between the forum and other organizations working in the field of health care quality. [PL 2003, c. 469, Pt. A, §8 (NEW).]

[PL 2011, c. 90, Pt. J, §24 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2003, c. 469, §A8 (NEW). PL 2011, c. 90, Pt. J, §24 (AMD).
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