ME LD1511

Expands Maine's direct care agreement framework from "primary care" only to broader "health care" services, allowing more types of licensed providers to offer subscription-based direct care arrangements with patients

Removes the requirement that direct health care providers be "qualified to provide primary care services," enabling specialists and other advanced practitioners authorized for independent practice to participate

Adds a definition of "health care" by reference to existing Maine statute (22 MRSA §1711-C), replacing the narrower "primary care" definition limited to outpatient, nonspecialty services

Maintains existing protections: direct health care agreements remain exempt from insurance regulation, must disclose they are not health insurance, and providers cannot bill third parties for services covered under the agreement

Preserves the prohibition against insurers denying payment for referrals made by out-of-network direct health care providers, updating terminology to match the expanded scope