Resolve, To Amend the Rule Regarding Certain Mandatory Charity Care Policies To Be Consistent with MaineCare and the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0610
Committee Amendment CA_A_H236 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 429, L.D. 610, "Resolve, To Amend 
the Rule Regarding Certain Mandatory Charity Care Policies To Be Consistent with 
MaineCare and the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Review and Amend the Rules Regarding Hospital Charity Care 
Guidelines' 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Review. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services, 
referred to in this resolve as "the department," shall convene a working group to review 
the rules of the department regarding hospital charity care guidelines pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1716 and Chapter 150 of the department's rules. 
1. The working group must include representatives of hospitals, consumers of health 
care services and other interested persons. The working group shall examine the possible 
use of an asset test similar to the asset test in use in the MaineCare program on January 1, 
2013 or an asset test determined to be appropriate by the group. The working group shall 
also consider and propose to the department amendments to the income eligibility levels 
for charity care based upon eligibility for federal premium tax credits to purchase 
insurance through exchanges under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act of 2010, Public Law 111-148, as amended by the federal Health Care and Education 
Reconciliation Act of 20 I 0, Public Law 111-152. The working group recommendations 
must include provisions to protect those for whom the insurance is not affordable and 
those who have other good cause for not purchasing insurance through exchanges and 
such other circumstances as the group members consider to be relevant and appropriate 
for hospitals and residents in the State. If the working group determines that adoption of 
state law regarding an asset test is necessary, the department shall propose to the 
Legislature appropriate statutory language. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~<O 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "~"to H.P. 429, L.D. 610 
2. The department shall provide 2 reports on the work of the working group to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters. A progress report must be submitted by April 1, 2014 and a final report 
by February 1,2015. 
3. 
Following consultation with the working group and based upon the 
recommendations of the working group and prior to February 1, 2015, the department 
shall provisionally adopt rules to amend Chapter 150 regarding hospital charity care 
guidelines. Any rules proposed for adoption under this section are designated as major 
substantive rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A. 
4. It is the intention of the Legislature that prior to the adoption of any hospital 
charity care guideline rules adopted as a result of the process required by this section, the 
hospital charity care guideline rules in effect on January 1,2013 remain in effect.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the resolve. The amendment requires the Department of 
Health and Human Services to convene a working group and provisionally adopt rules to 
amend the hospital charity care guidelines by February 1, 2015. The amendment directs 
the working group to examine the use of an asset test. The amendment requires reports to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters by April 1, 2014 and February 1, 2015. The amendment states the 
intention of the Legislature that the charity care rules in effect on January 1,2013 remain 
in effect until any proposed major substantive rules come into effect. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
Approved: 05/13/13 
;t?a"C 
LD610 
LR 1404(02) 
Resolve, To Amend the Rule Regarding Certain Mandatory Charity Care Policies To Be Consistent 
with MaineCare and the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 
\ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, cH #'~3~ 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to be minor and can be absorbed 
within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1404(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1