Title 22, Title 22

Any eating establishment regardless of the number of seats that permits on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages is bound by section 1686, regarding the provision of a toilet facility. An eating establishment that has a seating capacity of 40 or fewer persons is required to…

The Department of Health and Human Services may adopt, in accordance with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, rules to administer this chapter and thereby protect the public health.

This chapter shall be enforced by the Division of Health Engineering. Anyone violating this chapter or rules under this chapter commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not more than $200 may be adjudged. Each day of violation shall be considered a separate offense.

The Maine Water Well Program, known in this chapter as "the program," is established to provide the public with the highest quality drinking water possible by ensuring that water wells are drilled, constructed, altered or abandoned in a manner that protects groundwater from conta…

The Maine Water Well Commission, as established in Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 13‑B, shall administer the program. The commission has the powers and duties set forth in Title 32, chapter 69‑C.

This chapter is enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Engineering.

The Legislature finds that adequate measures must be taken to ensure that any threats to the health of the people of the State posed by natural phenomena or the introduction of potentially toxic substances into the environment are identified, appropriately considered and responde…

The department shall create an Environmental Health Program within the Division of Disease Control of the Bureau of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. This program shall be staffed by individuals with training and experience in environmental medicine, epidemiology, …

As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1983, c. 835, §1 (NEW).] 1. Bureau. "Bureau" means the Bureau of Health. 2. Director. "Director" means the Director of the Bureau of Health or the director's desi…

1. Access to reports and records. The Department of Health and Human Services must be given access to all confidential reports and records filed by physicians, hospitals or other private or public sector organizations, with all departments, agencies, commissions or boards of the …

The Environmental Health Program shall, to the maximum extent feasible, and within the amounts appropriated for these purposes, contract with educational, research and eleemosynary institutions within the State for research and investigation activities which can be carried out mo…

The department is authorized to accept any public or private funds which may be available for carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

1. Findings and declaration of purpose. The Legislature finds that: A. Pure scientific considerations must govern the review and evaluation of potential health risks associated with chemical pollutants; [PL 1983, c. 835, §1 (NEW).] B. Scientific review and evaluation of potential…

The Director of the Bureau of Health shall assess regularly whether any health threats exist for persons consuming freshwater and anadromous fish caught in state waters by noncommercial anglers. The assessment must be based on appropriate technical and scientific data and public …

The Bureau of Health shall establish work-site high blood pressure programs at work sites that have not previously been providing regular high blood pressure programs to their employees in order to screen all employees, detect and confirm those who have elevated blood pressures, …

The Bureau of Health shall actively seek health care providers throughout the State to participate in identifying workers with high blood pressure and helping them control their disease through physician-prescribed treatment regimen. Standards of quality and criteria for awarding…

1. Heart attack and stroke prevention programs; establishment. The Bureau of Health shall establish a program to develop heart attack and stroke prevention programs in communities and regions throughout the State. The community programs shall: A. Provide public education to schoo…

1. Program established. The Bureau of Health shall establish an asthma prevention and control program to provide leadership for and coordination of asthma prevention and intervention activities. The program may include, but is not limited to, the following: A. Monitoring of asthm…

1. Advisory board established. The Rare Disease Advisory Council, as established in Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 48‑A and referred to in this section as "the council," advises the commissioner and provides information to the public on issues regarding rare diseases. As us…

The department shall enter into partnerships with health care providers, including obstetricians, gynecologists, primary care providers, nurse practitioners and physician associates, and community-based health care programs and hospitals to create and disseminate informational ma…

The department, through its Bureau of Health, is authorized to administer a program to extend and improve its services for promoting the general public health. The department is authorized to: 1. Apply for federal aid. Apply for federal aid under the Public Health Service Act (Pu…

The department shall have authority to accept any federal law now in effect or hereafter enacted which makes federal funds available for public health services of all kinds and to meet such federal requirements with respect to the administration of such funds as are required as c…

This Title may not be construed to empower or authorize the department or its representative to interfere in any manner with the right of an individual to select the physician or mode of treatment of the individual's choice, as long as sanitary laws, rules and regulations are com…

The department, with the approval of the Governor, may, for the purpose of aiding in national defense in case of war or in any state emergency declared by the Governor under Title 37‑B, section 742, procure and distribute inside the State and sell or give away, in its discretion,…

1. Compensation for hospitals. Such sums of money as may be appropriated by the Legislature in aid of public and private hospitals shall be expended under the direction of the department, and the expense of administration shall be charged to the appropriation of that department f…

The Department of Health and Human Services may make a payment to each general hospital in the State which is certified for participation in the Medical Assistance Program under Title 19 of the Social Security Act, not to exceed the average amount paid to that hospital by the dep…

If a patient of an institution licensed as a hospital by the State, after discharge from such institution, makes written request for copies of the patient's medical records, the copies must, if available, be made available to the patient in accordance with the requirements of 45 …

Whenever a health care practitioner defined in section 1711‑B furnishes in paper form requested copies of a patient's treatment record or a medical report or an addition to a treatment record or medical report to the patient or the patient's authorized representative, the charge …

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in section 1711‑C, subsection 1, paragraph F. [PL 1997, c. 793, Pt. A, §3 (AMD); PL 1997, c. 793…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Authorized representative of an individual" or "authorized representative" means an individual's legal guardian; agent pursuant to Title 18‑C, sec…

1. Designation of visitors. A patient in a hospital licensed pursuant to chapter 405 may designate persons to be considered as immediate family members for the purpose of granting visitation rights. The following provisions apply to the designation of visitors under this section.…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Carrier" has the same meaning as in Title 24‑A, section 4301‑A, subsection 3. [PL 2005, c. 589, §1 (NEW).] A-1. "Administrator" has the same meani…

The MaineCare program established under chapter 855 may transfer member health care information to a health care practitioner or health care facility for the purpose of diagnosis, treatment or care of the member through an electronic health information exchange in accordance with…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Aftercare" means any assistance to a patient, after the patient's discharge, that is directly related to the content of the patient's hospital dis…

Each hospital licensed by the State under chapter 405 shall inform all patients, or their legal guardians, in writing, at the time of the patient's discharge, that it will provide an itemized bill upon their request. [PL 1983, c. 166 (NEW).] The request may be made by the patient…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Boarding home" means any facility that meets the definition of former section 7901‑A, subsection 4 or the definition of residential care facility …

From April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2024, the department shall reimburse critical access hospitals from the total allocated from hospital tax revenues under Title 36, chapter 377 at least $1,000,000 in state and federal funds to be distributed annually among critical access hospit…

From April 1, 2012 to December 31, 2024, the department shall reimburse licensed critical access hospitals at 109% of MaineCare allowable costs for both inpatient and outpatient services provided to patients covered by the MaineCare program. Beginning January 1, 2025, the departm…

If the department determines that there is a credible allegation of fraud by a provider under the MaineCare program, the following procedures apply. [RR 2011, c. 2, §25 (RAL).] 1. Suspension of payments. The department shall suspend payment in whole or in part to a MaineCare prov…

1. Access requirements. Any person, including, but not limited to, an affiliated interest as defined in former section 396‑L, that is subject to the requirements of this subsection, shall provide the services listed in paragraph C to individuals who are eligible for charity care …

The department shall adopt reasonable guidelines for policies to be adopted and implemented by hospitals with respect to the provision of health care services to patients who are determined unable to pay for the services received. The department shall adopt income guidelines that…

This section applies to financial assistance programs provided by hospitals to qualifying patients, including program requirements specific to charity care. [PL 2025, c. 488, §3 (NEW); PL 2025, c. 488, §8 (AFF).] 1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwi…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Activities of daily living" means tasks that are routinely performed by an individual to maintain bodily function, including, but not limited to, …

Each hospital or ambulatory surgical center licensed under chapter 405 shall, upon request by an individual, provide the average charge for any inpatient service or outpatient procedure provided by the licensee. If a single medical encounter will involve services or procedures to…

This section applies to the disclosure of health care prices by a health care entity. [PL 2013, c. 515, §2 (NEW).] 1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Frequently provided health care…

1. Uninsured or self-pay patient; good faith estimate. Upon the request of an uninsured or self-pay patient, a health care entity, as defined in section 1718‑B, subsection 1, paragraph B, shall provide to the patient a good faith estimate of the total price of medical services to…