Code of Maine Rules › 26 - DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL › 550 - VICTIMS' COMPENSATION BOARD › Chapter 8 - RULES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS › Section 550-8-3 - Payment for Forensic Examinations for alleged victims of gross sexual assault

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1. A victim seeking
				examination and treatment following a gross sexual assault shall be exempted
				from the payment of expenses incurred as a result of sexual assault forensic
				examination services. The licensed hospital or licensed health care
				practitioner may bill the patient or patient's insurer for services outside the
				scope of the forensic examination. A victim may apply to the Victims'
				Compensation Board for reimbursement for losses outside the scope of the gross
				sexual assault forensic examination.
2. The Victims' Compensation Board shall pay
				the costs of forensic examinations for alleged victims of gross sexual assault
				from the Victims' Compensation Fund. To be reimbursable an examination must
				incorporate the use of a uniform standardized forensic examination kit
				distributed by the Department of Public Safety, and that use must have a
				forensic basis. If at any time a uniform kit is not available for distribution,
				the licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner must use a
				standardized evidence collection kit that has met the requirements established
				by rule of the Department of Public Safety. The maximum payment by the fund for
				a forensic examination shall not exceed the statutory maximum of $500.00. The
				Board may delegate to the director of the Victims' Compensation Board the
				review of claims and approval of reimbursement for services included in
				forensic examinations in accord with rules and guidelines established by the
				Victims' Compensation Board. Payments from the Compensation Fund shall be made
				directly to the licensed hospital or licensed health care practitioner and
				shall be considered payment in full and shall bar balance billing or other
				actions for collection.
A. Upon completion of
				a gross sexual assault forensic examination the licensed hospital or licensed
				health care practitioner shall submit an itemized bill detailing the treatment
				costs and examination costs for collection of evidence required by the
				Department of Public Safety. Claims will be paid only where the sexual assault
				procedures as required by 24 MRSA §2986, 25 MRSA § 291525 M RSA
				§ 3821, and 5 MRSA §3360-M for forensic examinations and treatment
				are followed.
B. In the event that
				there are multiple fees from separate service providers, the statutory maximum
				shall be allocated among the service providers.
C. The licensed hospital or licensed health
				care practitioner to receive reimbursement is responsible for submitting to the
				Victims' Compensation Board (on forms approved by the Board) the following
				information:
(1) Victim tracking
				number
(2) Examination kit
				number
(3) Victim's date of
				birth
(4) Victim's gender
(5) Date and time of incident
(6) Location of incident (Town)
(7) Date and time of treatment by medical
				provider
(8) Whether a report to
				law enforcement was filed
(9) Name
				of law enforcement agency notified
(10) Name and address of medical
				provider
(11) Hospital /
				Practitioner Federal Tax Identification Number
(12) Provider billing office contact person
				and phone number
(13) Signed
				verification from the licensed health care practitioner
(14) All itemized copies of medical bills
				complete with current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. This billing
				statement must show individual charges for lab work as listed in 1A of this
				rule.
D. The licensed
				medical facility or licensed practitioner must send the reimbursement form with
				the attached itemized bills to the Victims' Compensation Board.
E. All claims must be submitted to the Board
				within 60 days of examination.