MINUTES 

MAINE HEALTH DATA ORGANIZATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
151 CAPITOL STREET, AUGUSTA, MAINE
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2004

The meeting of the Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) Board of Directors began at 9:10 a.m. with the following Board members present:  Richard Bruns, Chair, Dana Kempton, Vice-Chair, Vaikko Allen, Theresa Bellmore, Robin Bickford, Lynn Davey, Cathy Gavin, Peter Gore, Doug Libby, Dick Lowd, Rebecca Martins, Diane Moongrove, John Portela, and Lisa Tuttle.  Absent members were Mark Granzier, David Johnson,  Vicki Purgavie, and Sydney Sewall.

The December 11, 2003 MHDO Board minutes were approved as written.

Executive Director Report

Financial Report:  Mr. Prysunka informed the Board that additional money from salary and benefit savings was transferred from the Personal Services category to the 
General Fund.  

Compliance Issues: Debby Tuck provided the Board with a handout showing the current status of assessments and stated that Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) has not paid their assessment.  Upon request from CMMC’s accounts payable department, she has resent them the previous assessment correspondence and will allow them time to respond before sending a compliance letter from the Director or the Chair.

Payer/Hospital Codes Update:  Mr. Prysunka stated that he has received correspondence from Maine Medical Center stating they are still in the process of creating a draft file of payer ID codes.  Mr. Prysunka will speak with Tammy Butts 
about the issue and update the Board at the next meeting. 

Chapter 50:  Rules for Fees for Data Processing, Report Compilation and Copying Services:  Mr. Prysunka explained changes he made to the draft of Chapter 50, which was provided to Board members for discussion.  He also provided a listing of other states’ fees to use as a guide in assessing the price to charge for the MHDO’s data.  After some discussion surrounding misuse and resale of the data a motion was made and seconded that Mr. Prysunka speak to the Governor’s Office about introducing 
after deadline legislation to increase penalties for misuse of data.  The motion passed unanimously.

A discussion ensued regarding per use charges for requested data, as opposed to annual charges, and it was determined that clarification was needed in the rule to 
state that if the same corporate entity requests a modification to their data request no additional fee would be incurred during that year, as long as it does not violate the 
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January 8, 2004
Page 2

release rules.  However, the newly established processing fee, as discussed at the last Board meeting, would be in effect.  There was a motion that the Board accept Chapter 50 with the above stated change and a discussion ensued regarding language changes with regard to Waiver Provisions.  It was agreed that the language would be modified 
to give the Board discretion to grant a fee reduction or waiver based upon extenuating circumstances.  The motion was seconded and passed with one member opposed.

MaineCare Data/CMS Update:  Al Prysunka informed the Board that the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) should be finalized soon.  A letter from Governor Baldacci along with the signed MOA will be sent to the Director of CMS.

Patient Advocates Update:  Mark Randlett, Assistant Attorney General informed 
the Board that Patient Advocates filed their motion for summary judgment late.  Consequently, the Attorney General’s Office filed an objection to the filing.  A decision will be made on the pending motions by January 30th. Mr. Randlett also stated that the case was taken off the trial list in February to allow the court to consider the pending motions, and if the court were to grant any motion for summary judgment, that would end the matter.  If not, the case could go to trial in the spring.  

MHDO/Maine Quality Forum Relationship:    As requested, the Board received a summary of the legislative changes relating to the MHDO as a result of Dirigo Health Legislation.  Mr. Prysunka informed the Board that he met with staff from the Dirigo Health Agency and will meet with its Executive Director Tom Dunne to discuss the 
what is required of the MHDO.  He also stated that the Maine Quality Forum and the Maine Quality Council  will determine what is required of the MHDO and the MHDO 
will enact rules to accommodate those requests.   Mr. Prysunka and Dr. Bruns informed the Board of what information they intend to provide to the Maine Quality Forum Advisory Council during their presentation later in the month.  Chair Bruns will update the Board on the presentation at the next Board meeting.  

MHDO Pamphlets:  Al Prysunka stated that the existing MHDO pamphlet is being revised and he will incorporate the answers to the questions he received from the 
Board as appropriate.  He will also prepare an answer sheet for discussion by the Board. 

Data Processing Center Report:  Suanne Singer disseminated two charts which she plans to update for the Board each month.  She explained what criteria she used to provide the figures listed showing the percentage of companies that have submitted acceptable data records.  She stated her intent to contact delinquent companies via e-mail one last time.  She will then discuss with MHDO staff the missing data from 

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January 8, 2004
Page 3

the last 11 months of submissions.  Doug Libby was asked by the Maine Management Coalition Board to pass along their concerns regarding companies not submitting any data, which lessens the value of the claims database.  The MHIC and the MHDO will work together and prepare a list showing names of delinquent companies at the next Board meeting.

Public Comment

None provided.

There was some discussion regarding the accurate collection of race and ethnicity 
in the hospital database.  Mr. Prysunka will contact the appropriate people and report back to the Board on his findings.   

The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Adams
Administrative Assistant