Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §4301, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 673, Pt. C, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

5. Participating provider. "Participating provider" means a licensed or certified provider of health care services, including mental health services, or health care supplies that has entered into an agreement with a carrier to provide those health care services or supplies to an individual enrolled in a managed care plan.

Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §4301, sub-§7 is enacted to read:

7.__Provider.__"Provider" means an individual or entity licensed or certified to provide health care services, including hospital and mental health services or health care supplies.

Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §4307, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 673, Pt. C, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

§4307. Construction

Nothing in this chapter may be construed to:

1. Purchase services with own funds. Prohibit an individual from purchasing any health care services with that individual's own funds, whether these services are covered within the individual's benefit package or from another health care provider or plan, except as otherwise provided by federal or state law; or

2. Additional benefits. Prohibit any plan sponsor from providing additional coverage for benefits, rights or protections not set out in this chapter; or .

3. Provider participation. Require a carrier to admit to a managed care plan a provider willing to abide by the terms and conditions of the managed care plan.

Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4310 is enacted to read:

§4310. Agreements with providers

1.__Reimbursement agreements.__A carrier may enter into agreements with providers relating to the terms and conditions of reimbursement for health care services that may be rendered to enrollees in managed care plans, including agreements relating to the amounts to be charged the enrollee for services rendered.