An Act Regarding Home Health Care and Hospice Services Ordered
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1583
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: CLOUTIER, ROTUNDO
Amends: 22 MRSA §2145-A

Legislative Document
No. 1583
H.P. 1041
House of Representatives, April 10, 2025
An Act Regarding Home Health Care and Hospice Services Ordered 
by a Health Care Provider Outside of Maine
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CLOUTIER of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin and
Representatives: GATTINE of Westbrook, MATHIESON of Kittery, MCCABE of Lewiston, 
SARGENT of York, SHAGOURY of Hallowell, WADSWORTH of Hiram, Senators: 
LAWRENCE of York, LIBBY of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2145-A is enacted to read:
§2145-A.  Home health care services ordered by out-of-state health care provider
1.  Requirements.  A home health care provider may deliver home health care services 
to a patient who resides in this State based upon an order from a health care provider 
licensed in another state or jurisdiction of the United States who meets the following 
requirements.
A.  The health care provider must hold a license in good standing conferred by the 
medical board, nursing board or other provider licensing authority in the provider's 
jurisdiction of practice.  The health care provider's licensure must be verified by the 
home health care provider in this State and made available upon request by the 
department.
B.  The health care provider must prescribe home health care services pursuant to an 
in-person physical examination of the patient performed within the state or jurisdiction 
in which the health care provider is licensed.
2.  Contacting primary care provider.  The referring health care provider under 
subsection 1 shall ask the patient if the patient has a primary care provider in this State.  If 
the patient does have a primary care provider in this State, the referring provider shall make 
every reasonable effort to contact the primary care provider and obtain the agreement of 
the primary care provider to order the home health care services.  The referring health care 
provider shall make a notation of the contact in the patient's medical record.
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA c. 1681, sub-c. 3 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 3
HOSPICE SERVICES ORDERED BY OUT-OF-STATE HEALTH CARE 
PROVIDER
§8641.  Hospice services ordered by out-of-state health care provider
1.  Requirements.  A hospice provider may deliver hospice services to a patient who 
resides in this State based upon an order from a health care provider licensed in another 
state or jurisdiction of the United States who meets the following requirements.
A.  The health care provider must hold a license in good standing conferred by the 
medical board, nursing board or other provider licensing authority in the provider's 
jurisdiction of practice.  The health care provider's licensure must be verified by the 
hospice provider in this State and made available upon request by the department.
B.  The health care provider must prescribe hospice services pursuant to an in-person 
physical examination of the patient performed within the state or jurisdiction in which 
the health care provider is licensed.
2.  Contacting primary care provider.  The referring health care provider under 
subsection 1 shall ask the patient if the patient has a primary care provider in this State.  If 
the patient does have a primary care provider in this State, the referring provider shall make 
every reasonable effort to contact the primary care provider and obtain the agreement of 
the primary care provider to order the hospice services.  The referring health care provider 
shall make a notation of the contact in the patient's medical record.
SUMMARY
This bill allows a home health care or hospice provider to deliver home health care or 
hospice services to a patient who resides in this State based upon an order from a health 
care provider from another state or jurisdiction in the United States who is licensed and 
prescribes services pursuant to an in-person physical examination in the jurisdiction of 
licensure.