Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §4222-C is enacted to read:

§4222-C.__Undisputed claims

1.__Definition.__For purposes of section 4222-B, subsection 13 and sections 2436 and 2436-A, the following are considered undisputed claims:

A.__Any claim that received prior authorization from a health maintenance organization under section 4304;

B.__With respect to a noninstitutional provider, any claim filed with a health maintenance organization that was submitted on a form generated by the federal Health Care Financing Administration and that:

(1)__Has no defect or impropriety;

(2)__Does not lack requisite substantiating documentation for noncontracted providers and suppliers; and

(3)__Does not present particular circumstances requiring special treatment that prevent timely payment from being made on the claim; and

C.__With respect to an institutional claim, in the absence of a written definition in a contract that is agreed to by the parties to that contract, any claim that is a properly and accurately completed paper or electronic billing statement and that:

(1)__Consists of the requisite data set, as established by rulemaking by the bureau; and

(2)__Contains entries considered as mandatory by a national uniform billing committee.

2.__Enforce timely payment.__The superintendent shall collect data sufficient to enforce timely payment of undisputed claims.

3.__Penalty.__The superintendent shall impose financial penalties in accordance with the following:

A.__Up to $500 per claim for each day a claim is processed beyond the 30-day limit.__A penalty imposed under this