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Page 1 - 132LR0919(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
H.P. 981 - L.D. 1497
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Primary Care Reporting by the Maine
Quality Forum and to Establish the Primary Care Advisory Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §6951, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 244, §2, is
repealed.
Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §6951, sub-§12-A is enacted to read:
12-A. Primary care reporting. Beginning January 15, 2026 and annually thereafter,
the forum shall submit to the Department of Health and Human Services and the joint
standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services
matters and health coverage and health insurance matters a report on at least one of the
following key measures reflecting the status of primary care in the State:
A. Annual primary care expenditures as a percentage of overall health care spending
and investment;
B. Annual utilization of primary care services as a percentage of overall utilization of
health care services;
C. The capacity of the primary care provider workforce to care for all residents of the
State;
D. The ability of residents of the State to have timely access to primary care services;
and
E. The overall health of residents of the State using metrics that reflect the use of
preventive and screening services.
This subsection is repealed January 15, 2031.
Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §6951, sub-§14 is enacted to read:
14. Primary Care Advisory Council. The Primary Care Advisory Council, referred
to in this subsection as "the advisory council," is established. The forum shall convene and
staff the council.
APPROVED
JUNE 9, 2025
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
218
PUBLIC LAW
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For purposes of this subsection, "primary care" means physicians, nurse practitioners and
physician assistants practicing in family medicine, general pediatric medicine, general
internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and geriatric medicine.
A. The advisory council shall identify specific actions required to create a sustainable
high-functioning primary care system in the State. The advisory council shall, at a
minimum:
(1) Assess the overall status of primary care in the State using available data,
including, but not limited to, timely access to primary care services, utilization of
services, quality of care, equity and the adequacy and sustainability of the State's
primary care workforce;
(2) Identify gaps in the status of primary care in the State and potential approaches
to address those gaps; and
(3) Make recommendations for specific policy changes to address identified gaps
that will:
(a) Ensure sufficient investment in primary care services that will result in
better health for residents of the State and lower overall health expenditures;
(b) Ensure a sufficient number and geographic distribution of primary care
providers so that each resident of the State has a primary care provider near
that resident's home, with a focus on ensuring equity in all counties;
(c) Ensure a resident's ability to access services from a primary care provider
in a timely manner; and
(d) Improve the health of residents by ensuring adequate access to preventive
and screening services.
Beginning January 15, 2026 and annually thereafter, the advisory council shall submit
a report detailing its activities and recommendations under this paragraph 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.
B. The advisory council consists of the following 18 members:
(1) Seven members representing primary care providers licensed in the State,
appointed by the board of directors of the Maine Health Data Organization
established under Title 22, section 8703. At least 3 members must be actively
practicing primary care clinicians, working at least 20 or more clinical hours per
week, and at least one member must be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
Appointments under this subparagraph must be made as follows:
(a) One member must be appointed from nominations provided by a statewide
association of physicians;
(b) One member must be appointed from nominations provided by a statewide
association of osteopaths;
(c) One member must be a provider working in an independently owned
practice setting;
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(d) One member must be appointed from nominations provided by a statewide
association of community health centers, and that member must be working at
a federally qualified health center;
(e) One member must be appointed from nominations provided by a statewide
association of nurse practitioners;
(f) One member must be appointed from nominations provided by a statewide
association of physician assistants; and
(g) One member must be appointed from nominations provided by a statewide
association of hospitals;
(2) Five members must represent stakeholder groups with an interest in primary
care as follows:
(a) Two members must represent 3rd-party payors and must be appointed from
a list of 3rd-party payors provided by a statewide association of health plans
providing or administering health insurance coverage;
(b) One member must represent employers and must be appointed from a list
of employers provided by a statewide association of health care purchasers;
and
(c) Two members must represent consumers and must be appointed from a list
provided by a statewide association that advocates for access to affordable
health care. For the purposes of this division, "consumer" means a person who
is not affiliated with or employed by a 3rd-party payor, a provider or an
association representing 3rd-party payors or providers; and
(3) Four members must be appointed as follows:
(a) Two members must be appointed by the Commissioner of Health and
Human Services, one representing the office of MaineCare services and one
representing the office of the commissioner;
(b) One member of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and
(c) One member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker
of the House.
The Superintendent of Insurance or the superintendent's designee and the executive
director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and
Tribal Populations or the executive director's designee serve as ex officio members.
In the event of a vacancy in the advisory council membership, the vacancy must be
filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the term. For the
purposes of reappointment, any partial term filled after a vacancy must be considered
a full term.
C. Except for members who are Legislators and the ex officio members, members of
the advisory council serve 3-year terms. A member may not serve more than 2
consecutive terms. The terms of Legislators serving as members of the advisory
council coincide with those members' legislative terms of office.
D. Except for members who are Legislators, members of the advisory council are
eligible for compensation as provided under Title 5, chapter 379.
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E. A quorum is a majority of the members of the advisory council.
F. The advisory council shall choose one of its members to serve as chair for a 2-year
term.
G. 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. Meetings of the advisory council are public
proceedings under Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1.
This subsection is repealed January 15, 2031.
Sec. 4. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 24-A,
section 6951, subsection 14, paragraph C, of the initial nonlegislative and non-ex officio
appointments made to the Primary Care Advisory Council, 4 members must be appointed
to one-year terms, 5 members must be appointed to 2-year terms and 5 members must be
appointed to 3-year terms.