Sec. C-17. 22 MRSA §8702, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 653, Pt. A, §2 and affected by §7, is amended to read:

8. Payor. "Payor" means a 3rd-party payor or 3rd-party administrator.

Sec. C-18. 22 MRSA §8702, sub-§9-A is enacted to read:

9-A.__Quality data.__"Quality data" means data submitted by health care providers from which health care service indicators may be developed and reported to the public.

Sec. C-19. 22 MRSA §8702, sub-§11, as amended by PL 2001, c. 677, §2, is further amended to read:

11. Third-party payor. "Third-party payor" means a health insurer, nonprofit hospital, medical services organization or managed care organization licensed in the State or the plan established in chapter 854. "Third-party payor" does not include carriers licensed to issue limited benefit health policies or accident, specified disease, vision, disability, long-term care, or nursing home care or Medicare supplement policies.

Sec. C-20. 22 MRSA §8703, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 457, §4, is further amended to read:

1. Objective. The purpose purposes of the organization is are to create and maintain a useful, objective, reliable and comprehensive health information database that is used to improve the health of Maine citizens and, either independently or in conjunction with another state entity, to issue periodic reports. This database must be publicly accessible while protecting patient confidentiality and respecting providers of care. The organization shall collect, process and, analyze and report clinical and, financial and quality data as defined in this chapter.

Sec. C-21. 22 MRSA §8704, sub-§1, ķA, as amended by PL 2001, c. 457, §7, is further amended to read:

A. The board shall develop and implement data collection policies and procedures for the collection, processing, storage and analysis of clinical, financial and

restructuring data in accordance with this subsection for the following purposes: