An Act To Fund Maine's HealthInfoNet Program
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1797
Committee Amendment CA_A_H900 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'Ii "to HJ~- 1~51, LD. 1797, Bill, "An Act To 
Fund Maine's HealthInfoNet Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Advance Maine's HealthInfoNet Program' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
·Sec. 1. Stakeholder process. Resolved: That the Maine Quality Forum and 
HealthInfoNet shall work together to convene a broadly representative stakeholder group 
to study and make recommendations for establishing and financing a quality 
improvement and technology fund that would initially contribute to HealthInfoNet's 
establishment and sustainability and make it possible for health care providers with 
limited financial resources to obtain electronic medical record systems. 
I. The work of the stakeholder group must include: identification of broad-based, 
stable, ongoing revenue sources; development of a technology investment account to help 
ensure the establishment of HealthInfoNet and provide financial assistance to health care 
providers with limited resources with the costs of electronic medical records and e-
prescribing; estimating return on investment from shared electronic clinical infonllation: 
establishing eligibility criteria for funding assistance; developing a methodology for 
measuring the quality and cost impact of HealthInfoNet and shared electronic clinical 
information; and providing recommendations, including legislation, to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
by December I, 2008. 
2. The stakeholder group must be broadly representative of persons and entities in 
the health care field_ and representatives must be invited, at a minimum, from the 
following: providers and payors of health care services, associations of providers and 
payors, providers of long-term care and assisted living services, rural health cl inics and 
associations representing those providers, Maine pharmacies, the pharmaceutical 
Page J- 123LR2549(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A 
"to H.P. 1251, L.D. 1797 
manufacturing industry, public health advocates and entities, state agencies that provide 
and pay for health care services, the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance, the 
Muskie School of Public Service, the MaineCare Advisory Committee, the Governor's 
MaineCare Providers' Advisory Group, the American Association of Retired Persons, the 
Finance Authority of Maine, the Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities 
Authority, the Maine Technology Institute, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and 
HealthlnfoNet. 
The stakeholder group must meet in May, June, July, September, October and 
November of 2008. All meetings must be public meetings. Legislators must be provided 
notice of the meeting dates and encouraged to attend as observers. 
The expenses of convening the stakeholder group must be borne by HealthInfoNet. 
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters is authorized to subm it legislation to the 124th Legislature 
pertaining to establishing and financing a quality improvement and technology fund.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. The resolve establishes a broadly 
representative stakeholder group to study and make recommendations regarding 
establishing and financing a quality improvement and technology fund. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 04/01108 frac:.. 
LD 1797 
LR 2549(02) 
An Act To Fund Maine's HealthlnfoNet Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A " 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Funds 
A_l1Y additional costs to the Maine Quality Forum in the Dirigo Health Agency can be absorbed by the agency utilizing 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR2549(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I