Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §106 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 106

I.HEALTH CARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

§371. Maine Health Care Quality Improvement Center established

The Maine Health Care Quality Improvement Center, referred to in this chapter as the "center," is established for the primary purpose of improving health care quality, increasing patient safety and reducing medical errors.__The center may be operated within the department or may be contracted out to a nonprofit entity.

§372.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1.__Health care facility.__"Health care facility" means a public or private, proprietary or not-for-profit entity or institution providing health services, including, but not limited to, a radiological facility licensed under chapter 160, a health care facility licensed under chapter 405 or 405-D, a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic certified by the Division of Licensing and Certification within the Department of Human Services, a home health care provider licensed under chapter 419, a residential care facility licensed under chapter 1665, a hospice provider licensed under chapter 1681, a community rehabilitation program licensed under Title 26, chapter 19 subchapter II, a state institution as defined under Title 34-B, chapter 1, a mental health facility licensed under Title 34-B, chapter 1, a drug outlet licensed under Title 32, chapter 117 or other entity licensed to provide health care.

2.__Health care practitioner.__"Health care practitioner" means a physician or other person certified, registered or licensed in the healing arts, including, but not limited to, a nurse, podiatrist, optometrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, naturopathic doctor, dentist, psychologist and physician's assistant.

3.__Major permanent loss of function.__"Major permanent loss of function" means sensory, motor, physiologic or intellectual impairment that requires continued treatment or imposes persistent major restrictions in activities of daily living and that was not present on admission of the patient to a health care