Resolve, To Establish the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of MaineCare
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0835
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CURLEY, ROTUNDO, McKANE, MILLER, MILLETT, PINGREE, SHIELDS, WOODBURY, MILLS, ROSEN

Legislative Document 
No. 835 
H.P.594 
House of Representatives, February 16,2005 
Resolve, To Establish the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of 
MaineCare 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative CURLEY of Scarborough. 
Cosponsored by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin and 
Ir/~ 
1J?7Tbc~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: McKANE of Newcastle, MILLER of Somerville, MILLETT of Waterford, 
PINGREE of North Haven, SHIELDS of Auburn, WOODBURY of Yarmouth, Senators: 
MILLS of Somerset, ROSEN of Hancock. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Bl ue Ribbon 
Commission 
on 
the Future of MaineCare, 
referred to in this 
resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: 
That the commission consists of 
members, all of whom are community leaders with experience in 
public policy, public finance, private business or the provision 
of health care. 
The members must be appointed as follows: 2 by 
the Governor; 
by the President of the Senate; and 2 by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
The first appointee of 
the Governor shall serve as chair; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Appointments. 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 
upon 
making 
their 
appointments. 
When the appointment of all members is complete, 
the chair of the Legislative Council shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the commission no later than October 15, 2005; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: 
That the commission shall study the 
future of the MaineCare program, options for providing coverage 
to persons in need of health care services, models for financing 
health care coverage 
under 
the 
federal 
Medicaid program 
and 
coordination with employer-based and other individual and group 
health insurance coverage. 
The 
commission shall examine 
the 
public policy foundations of different Medicaid program options, 
the 
implications 
of 
various 
models 
of 
personal 
and 
public 
responsibili ty for health care and al ternati ve funding, payment 
and 
program 
designs 
and 
their 
implications 
for 
fiscal 
predictability 
and 
stability. 
The 
commission 
shall 
provide 
recommendations 
for 
the 
future 
of 
the 
MaineCare 
program, 
including 
program 
design, 
eligibility, 
benefits 
and 
reimbursement, the use of waiver options and finance and fiscal 
stability. 
The commission may hold public hearings and public 
meetings at various locations across the State. 
In performing 
its duties, 
the 
commission shall consult with the 
MaineCare 
Advisory Committee, the Maine Quality Forum, the Advisory Council 
on Health Systems Development and associations of health care 
providers, 
employers 
providing 
health 
benefits 
and 
health 
carriers; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That the commission shall 
request staffing and clerical assistance from the Legislative 
Council. 
The 
Department 
of 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services, 
the 
Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance, the Maine Health 
Data Organization and the Maine Health Data Processing Center 
shall provide information and assistance as requested by the 
commission; and be it further 
Page l-LR0014(1) 
Sec. 6. 
Reimbursement. 
Resolved: 
That 
commission 
members 
serve as volunteers, with no per diem reimbursement. 
All members 
of the commission are entitled to reimbursement for travel and 
other necessary expenses, 
upon application to the Legislative 
Council. 
The Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall 
administer the commission's budget; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: 
That the commission shall submit an 
interim report with any accompanying legislation to the Second 
Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature by January 1, 2006, and 
shall submit a final report with any accompanying legislation to 
the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature by December 1, 
2006; and be it further 
Sec. 8. 
Appropriations and allocations. 
Resolved: 
following appropriations and allocations are made. 
BLUE RIBBON CCMUSSION ON THE 
FUTURE OF MAINECARE 
Blue Ribbon Commission on the 
Future of MaineCare 
That 
the 
lni tiati ve: 
Provides funding for expenses for members of the 
Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of MaineCare, for 6 meetings 
in fiscal year 2005-06 and 8 meetings in fiscal year 2006-07 and 
funds for mailings, printing and other costs. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2005-06 
$6,960 
$6,960 
2006-01 
$10,280 
$10,280 
This 
resolve creates the 
Blue 
Ribbon 
Commission 
on 
the 
Future of MaineCare. 
The commission, composed of 6 persons, is 
appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of 
the House. 
The commission is directed to study the future of the 
MaineCare program, options for coverage, models for financing and 
coordination with individual and group coverage. 
The commission 
is also required to examine the public policy, various models of 
responsibility for health care and alternatives for funding and 
fiscal 
stability. 
The 
commission 
is 
directed 
to 
provide 
recommendations for the future of the MaineCare program. 
The 
commission may hold public hearings and public meetings. 
The 
commission is directed to consult with the MaineCare Advisory 
Committee, 
the 
Maine Quality Forum, 
the Advisory Council 
on 
Health 
Systems 
Development 
and 
associations 
of 
health 
care 
providers, 
employers 
providing 
health 
benefits 
and 
health 
carriers. 
Commission staffing may be provided by the Legislative 
Council. 
The 
Department 
of 
Health 
and 
Human 
Services, 
the 
Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance, the Maine Health 
Data Organization and the Maine Health Data Processing Center are 
directed to provide information and assistance as requested. 
The 
commission is required to provide reports and any accompanying 
legislation by January 1, 2006 and December 1, 2006. 
The resolve 
includes an appropriation for the work of the commission.