MINUTES 

MAINE HEALTH DATA ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
151 CAPITOL STREET, AUGUSTA, MAINE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003

After a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of September 11, 2001, Chairman Richard Bruns opened the meeting of the Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) Board of Directors at  9:05 a.m. The following Board members were present:  Dana Kempton, Vice-Chair, Vaikko Allen, Robin Bickford, Lynn Davey, Cathy Gavin, Peter Gore, Mark Granzier, David Johnson, Dick Lowd, Rebecca Martins, Diane Moongrove, Vicki Purgavie, and Sydney Sewall.  Absent members were Theresa Bellmore,  Doug Libby, and John Portela. 

There was a motion and a second that the June 12, 2003 Revised MHDO Board Minutes be accepted as modified.  Motion passed unanimously.

The July 10, 2003 MHDO Board Minutes were approved as written.

Executive Director Report
Financial Report:  Mr. Prysunka stated that the financial statements have been modified to show the carry forward amount and there are no fiscal concerns.

CA Dean Data Compliance:  Debby Tuck informed the Board that CA Dean submitted acceptable data to the MHDO and no legal action was necessary.

FY ’03 Assessment Update:  The Board was provided with a handout showing an estimate of non-hospital providers’ assessments.  Staff is continuing to clarify the accuracy of the number of licensed facilities.

Evaluation of User Assessments:  After a brief discussion the Board decided that a Finance Subcommittee of at least four members should convene to discuss alternative assessment options, and to prepare the required report due to the Health & Human Services Subcommittee as authorized in LD 532.  Dana Kempton, Vicki Purgavie, Lynn Davey, and Dick Lowd volunteered to serve on the Subcommittee and a date for its first meeting will be established at the October 9th Board meeting.

MaineCare MOA Status:  Mr. Prysunka informed the Board of a meeting to be held on September 17, 2003 in an attempt to resolve the issue.  He will update the Board on its progress at the next Board meeting.  

Patient Advocates Filing Status:  Legal Counsel Paul Gauvreau explained to the Board that the case is currently in pretrial discovery and Patient Advocates must file all motions by mid-November.  Mr. Gauvreau will continue to update the Board on the proceedings as they happen. 

MHDO Board Meeting
September 11, 2003
Page 2

Board Representation Update:  Mr. Prysunka stated that Lisa Tuttle of the Maine Bureau of Health has been selected to fill the vacant slot for the State’s representative on the Board.  Ms. Tuttle was present and was invited to join the Board at the table.  
An invitation to Warren Bartlett’s retirement party was disseminated.  Mr. Prysunka informed the Board that he had spoken with Alanna Hounsell, Assistant to the 
Governor for Boards and Commissions and was informed that the process for appointing Tom Bradley, as well as those due for reappointment should be finished 
in the next two to three weeks.  David Winslow from the Maine Hospital Association stated that they are also working to recommend a hospital representative to the Governor's Office and the issue should be resolved in the same time frame as the 
other MHDO Board members.  

Hospital Database Payer File:  Mr. Prysunka informed the Board that a payer list was disseminated to all Maine hospitals and that hospital staff has been instructed to use only those names provided on the list.  He is also working on the issue with staff at the MHA and with Suzanne Menard of Southern Maine Medical Center/State UB-92 Committee and will provide an update at the next Board meeting.

MHDPC Update:  Suanne Singer, Manager of the Maine Health Data Processing Center provided a hand out showing data submissions from January through July 2003. She stated that a mailing went out to payers in July giving them 30 days to submit all the missing data  through June.  Delinquent companies will be referred to the MHDO 
for non-compliance.

Mr. Prysunka stated that the MHDPC Board approved Vaikko Allen as the MHDO’s Board representative and Dave Winslow as MHA’s replacement for Mike Brannigan.  There was a motion and a second that the MHDO Board also approve Dave Winslow as hospital representative on the MHDPC Board.  Motion passed unanimously.  

Data Requests:  Al Prysunka asked the Board for their position on a recent request the MHDO received from a party who had purchased data for one purpose, then requested additional parties have access to the same data for a different purpose.  As a result of modifications in Chapter 120 rules, this is prohibited and the Board agreed that due to the low fees charged for MHDO data the request should be handled as a  new data request with an additional charge.  However, data prices will be revised and a scale 
with lower costs for second requests may be considered.  Mr. Prysunka will provide 
a draft copy of Chapter 50 at the November meeting.  

Mr. Prysunka stated that the Internet posting system for data requests has now been activated. 
MHDO Board Meeting
September 11, 2003
Page 3

There was a brief discussion regarding Dirigo Health being subject to the same data request process and fees as a payer or the Bureau of Medical Services.  It was stated that the Board should consider treating them as a public payer and the issue will be revisited at a future meeting.

Retreat Agenda:  The MHDO/MHDPC Board Retreat will be held at Maple Hill Resort 
in Hallowell on October 9th at 10:00 a.m., after the MHDO Board meeting.  Lunch will be provided.  After a brief discussion it was determined that the retreat should begin with an overview of the MHDO and MHDPC relationship.  A list of the Data Processing Center’s Board members will be provided to the MHDO Board.  It was recommended that the overview previously prepared for Legislature be sent to the Board prior to the retreat as well as a written overview of any expansion expected as a result of the Dirigo Health legislation. At the recommendation of the Board, prospective consumer Board member Tom Bradley will be invited to attend the retreat.

Public Comment
Suanne Singer stated that the MHDPC Board has resources available to provide additional assistance to the MHDO.  A list of suggestions for ways they can assist 
the MHDO Board,  as well as a summary of their retreat, will be provided prior to October 9th.

Paul Gauvreau stated that out of the four non-hospital provider cases referred to the Attorney General’s Office three have paid their assessments and he will be filing suit against the remaining delinquent provider.

Future Meetings
The next scheduled Board meeting will be held at Maple Hill Farm,  Outlet Road, Hallowell, Maine on Thursday, October 9, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. The Board meeting 
will be followed by a retreat with the Maine Health Data Processing Board beginning 
at 10:00 a.m.  The retreat is scheduled to be held until approximately 1:00 p.m. and lunch will be provided at noon.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Adams
Administrative Assistant