Resolve, Implementing the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Primary Care Medical Practice
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2286
Committee: Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Order, S

Legislative Document 
No. 2286 
S.P.91O 
March 31, 2008 
Resolve, Implementing the Recommendations of the Commission To 
Study Primary Care Medical Practice 
Reported by Senator BRANNIGAN of Cumberland for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Order, S.P. 732. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Sec. 1. 
Patient-centered medical home. Resolved: 
That the Governor's 
Office of Health Policy and Finance and the Department of Health and Human Services 
shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters by January 15, 2009 on activities for implementing a 
multipayor patient-centered medical home pilot project. The report shall include specific 
recommendations for the application of the medical home concept to the MaineCare 
program and any legislation necessary for implementation. The pilot project must include 
specific standards for quality, access and integration as well as standards for appropriate 
reimbursement for medical home physicians; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Physician fee schedule. Resolved: That the Department of Health and 
Human Services shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters by January 15, 2009 on activities for 
implementing a single physician fee schedule for the MaineCare program. The report 
shall include specific recommendations for adequate reimbursement for physicians who 
serve as a patient's medical home under the patient-centered medical home model; and be 
it further 
Sec. 3. Streamline MaineCare procedures for cost-effective prescribers. 
Resolved: That the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance and the Department 
of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services shall report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services 
matters by January 15, 2009 on activities for implementing processes similar to those that 
are in place for specialists that will exempt primary care physicians and other 
practitioners who demonstrate a history of cost-effective prescribing that meets the needs 
of patients from certain preauthorization requirements; and be it further 
Sec. 4. 
Provide flexibility in dispensing prescribed medications. 
Resolved: That the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance, the Maine Board of 
Pharmacy and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare 
Services shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services matters by January 15, 2009 on the feasibility of adopting 
flexible pharmacy dispensing standards. The report must assess the prospect of allowing a 
pharmacist to dispense prescribed medication in a dosage that varies from the prescription 
but is equivalent to the overall dosage prescribed. The report must include an analysis of 
the impact on patient medication compliance and costs to the health care system and 
MaineCare as well as other unintended consequences. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance and the 
Department of Health and Human Services to report to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters by January 15, 
2009 on activities for implementing a multipayor patient-centered medical home pilot 
project and for streamlining preauthorization processes for primary care physicians who 
are cost-effective prescribers. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services 
to report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health 
I 
and human services matters by January 15, 2009 on activities for implementing a single 
physician fee schedule for the MaineCare program. It requires the Governor's Office of 
Health Policy and Finance, the Maine Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Health 
and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services to report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
by January 15, 2009 on the feasibility of adopting flexible prescribed medication 
dispensing standards for pharmacists. 
FISCAL\( HI' REQuIRED 
(See attached)_ 
Approved: 03/27/08 frac 
LD 
LR 3603(01) 
Resolve, Implementing the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Primary Care Medical 
Practice 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Original Bill 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs incurred in meeting the bill's reporting requirements can be absorbed by the Governor's Office of 
Health Policy and Finance, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Maine Board of Pharmacy utilizing 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR3603(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I