Resolve, Establishing the Commission on Maximum Hospital Charges for Workers' Compensation Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the ti tIe and before the swnmary and inserting in its place the following: Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and Legislature do not become effective until adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and resolves of the days after Whereas, the Commission on Maximum Workers Compensation is established to schedule of maximum charges for hospital workers' compensation claimants should be to recommend those maximum charges; and Hospital Charges for determine whether a services provided to established and if so Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative session; and Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it Page 1-LR2125(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0916
Committee Amendment CA_A_H338 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 635, L.D. 
916, Bill, "An 
Act To Amend the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule To 
Include Hospital Charges" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'Resolve, Establishing the Commission on Maximum Hospital Charges 
for Workers' Compensation' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
ti tIe and before the swnmary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
the 
days 
after 
Whereas, the Commission 
on 
Maximum 
Workers' 
Compensation is established to 
schedule of maximum charges for hospital 
workers' compensation claimants should be 
to recommend those maximum charges; and 
Hospital 
Charges 
for 
determine 
whether 
a 
services provided to 
established and if so 
Whereas, the 
study must 
be 
initiated before 
the 
90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 635, L.D. 916 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: 
That the Commission 
on Maximum Hospital Charges for Workers' Compensation, referred 
to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: 
That the commission 
consists of 13 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President 
of the Senate, 2 of whom serve on the Joint Standing Committee on 
Labor 
and of whom 
no 
more 
than 
are members 
of the 
same 
poli tical party; 
2. 
Four members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House, each of whom serves on the Joint 
Standing Committee on Labor and of whom 
no more than 2 are 
members of the same political party; 
3. 
One representative of Maine hospitals, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
4. 
One 
representative 
of 
a 
mutual 
insurance 
company 
licensed 
to 
sell 
workers' 
compensation 
insurance 
in 
Maine, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
5. 
One 
representative 
of 
a 
workers' 
compensation 
self-insurer in Maine, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
6. 
One representative of organized labor, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
7. 
One 
representative 
of 
an 
organization 
representing 
businesses in Maine, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
and 
8. 
The 
Executive Director of the Workers' 
Compensation 
Board, or the executive director's designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the commission and the first-named House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: 
That 
all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
Within 
days 
after 
appointment 
of 
all 
members, 
the 
chairs 
shall 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A .. to H.P. 635, L.D. 916 
call and convene the first meeting of the commission, which must 
be no later than August 1, 2005; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall study 
information 
provided 
by 
the 
Maine 
Health 
Data 
Organization 
concerning actual payments made by private 3rd-party payors for 
hospital services and any other relevant information to determine 
the following: 
1. 
Whether 
services provided 
established; and 
a 
schedule of maximum 
charges 
for hospital 
to workers' compensation claimants should be 
2. 
If a schedule should be established, what the maximum 
charges should be; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the Legislative Council 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the commission are entitled to receive the legislative per 
diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 
2, 
and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses 
related 
to 
their 
attendance 
at 
authorized 
meetings 
of 
the 
commission. 
Public members not otherwise compensated by their 
employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to 
receive 
reimbursement 
of 
necessary 
expenses 
and, 
upon 
a 
demonstration of financial hardship, 
a per diem equal to the 
legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings 
of the commission; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That, 
no later than December 7, 
2005, 
the commission shall submit a report that includes its 
findings 
and recommendations, 
including suggested legislation, 
for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, the 
Legislative Council and the Workers' 
Compensation Board. 
The 
commission is authorized to introduce legislation related to its 
report to the Second Regular Session of the l22nd Legislature at 
the time of submission of its report; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the commission requires 
a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which.may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Commission budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
commission, 
with assistance 
from 
the 
commission staff, shall 
administer the commission's budget. 
Within 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the 
commission shall present a 
work plan and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 635, L.D. 916 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
commission may 
not incur expenses that would 
result in the 
commission's exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from 
the commission the Executive Director of the Legislative Council 
shall promptly provide the commission chairs and staff with a 
status report on the commission budget, expenditures incurred and 
paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
replaces 
the bill 
with 
a 
resolve 
that 
establishes 
the 
Commission 
on 
Maximum 
Hospital 
Charges 
for 
Workers' 
Compensation. 
The 
commission's duties are 
to 
study 
information 
provided 
by 
the 
Maine 
Health 
Data 
Organization 
concerning actual payments made by private 3rd-party payors for 
hospital services and, based on that information, to determine 
whether 
a 
schedule of maximum 
charges 
for hospital services 
provided to workers' compensation claimants should be established 
and, if so, to recommend those maximum charges. 
FISCAL NOTE REQ1:IRED 
(See .att~~.~ed) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/06/05 ;:t;p'ac:.. 
LD916 
LR2125(02) 
An Act To Amend the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule To Include Hospital Charges 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current Costs - Legislative Study 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Legislative Study 
The projected costs to fund the general operating expenses of this study are $4,740 in fiscal year 2005· 
06. The Legislature's Part I budget includes $30,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 for legislative studies. 
Whether the amount is sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized 
by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Workers' Compensation Board associated with serving on the Commission can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2125(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1