F. A regulatory framework. The department, in conjunction with appropriate consumer and provider stakeholders, shall adopt rules that establish a clear regulatory framework prior to the implementation date that describes the regional system and its core components, including scope of services and populations covered, cost effectiveness and assumptions used to calculate savings. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are major substantive rules as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2- A.

2. Legislative review. The department shall make regular reports to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters regarding the development, implementation and ongoing management of the regional system.

3. Cost of system redesign. The plan for system redesign must describe the financing of the start-up and administration of the new regional system. Administrative costs may not reduce existing levels of direct services for adults. The plan must describe strategies to reduce state administrative costs to support the administrative requirements of regional entities; and be it further

Sec. 4. System design components. Resolved: That the regional system design must contain the following components.

1. Population served. The regional system design must encompass all adults with severe and persistent mental illness who were eligible as of July 1, 2003 for services under the MaineCare Assistance Manual, Section 17. These include MaineCare recipients, people without insurance and people who are underinsured.

2. Core services. Services provided under the regional system must be explicitly delineated in rules and contract and must include, at a minimum:

A. All MaineCare services currently provided under the MaineCare Assistance Manual, Sections 17, 65 and 97 as well as authorization responsibilities for inpatient psychiatric care;

B. Emerging, promising and best practices, including, but not limited to, those best practices currently identified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;