CONCEPT DRAFT

SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. The bill seeks to protect Medicaid recipients and providers from unintended consequences of the noncompliance of the Department of Human Services with year 2000 readiness in the following ways.

1. It seeks to provide for additional independent consultants to assist the Department of Human Services in achieving year 2000 compliance and correct any problems caused by noncompliance.

2. It establishes an interest-free loan program administered by the Finance Authority of Maine to provide temporary funding to Medicaid providers, including nonprofit providers that are prohibited from retaining reserve funds to meet their obligations, in an amount equal to payments due to those providers that are delayed due to year 2000 problems.