Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

PART A

Part A corrects errors in the original language of the budget bills, which failed to specifically segregate the deappropriations in the state employees health insurance and university employees insurance programs from appropriations made to the MaineCare program. The appropriations were for the purpose of funding improvements in Medicaid reimbursement for hospital services and achieving greater parity with payments to providers of public employee health services.

PART B

Part B provides for the appropriations and allocations of funds to the Department of Human Services for elder and adult services, congregate housing and long-term care.

PART C

Part C lowers the license fees to operate a hospital from $100 to $40 for each bed and to operate a nursing or convalescent home from $45 to $26 for each bed. Part C provides for a carry-over of federal funds from fiscal year 2002-03 to September 30, 2005 for use by the Area Agencies on Aging. Part C also requires that undedicated revenue returned from providers be deposited into the General Fund, which provides an offset to Part B.