ME LD2199

Prohibits any person from directly or indirectly interfering with, controlling, or directing the professional judgment or clinical decisions of licensed health care professionals with independent practice authority

Applies to health care providers, facilities, and provider organizations including hospitals, health systems, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, and accountable care organizations (excludes nursing facilities)

Specifically bans using discipline, threats, adverse employment actions, coercion, or retaliation to control: time spent with patients, patient discharge timing, clinical status decisions, diagnosis/billing codes entered in medical records, and diagnostic test decisions

Protects clinical decisions such as whether patients should remain in observation status, receive palliative care, or be placed in specific settings upon discharge

Originated from recommendations by the Commission to Evaluate the Scope of Regulatory Review and Oversight over Health Care Transactions