D.__"Medicare D" means Part D of the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.

2.__Coordination.__The department shall coordinate the benefits of persons who are eligible for prescription and nonprescription drug benefits under Medicare D and the elderly low-cost drug program or the MaineCare program or both.__In coordinating benefits the department shall perform the following functions:

A.__Provide assistance in applying for Medicare D under section 254, 3rd paragraph and section 3174-GG;

B.__Provide wrap services under section 254, subsection 13 and section 3174-GG;

C.__Provide continuity of care under section 254, subsection 14 and section 3174-GG; and

D.__Provide education and outreach under section 254, subsection 15 and section 3174-GG.

3.__Rulemaking.__The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.__Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

I.

PART C

Sec. C-1. 22 MRSA §3174-GG is enacted to read:

§3174-GG.__Coordination of prescription drug benefits

Beginning November 1, 2005, the department shall coordinate the drug benefits of persons enrolled in the MaineCare program as provided in section 255-A to increase access to needed prescription and nonprescription drugs at affordable costs.

PART D

Sec. D-1. Rulemaking for nursing facility services. By January 1, 2006, the Department of Health and Human Services