Code of Maine Rules
10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL
Chapter 510 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE RURAL MEDICAL ACCESS PROGRAM
Section 144-510-I - INTRODUCTION

A. Intent

It is the intent of the Maine Department of Human Services to promote the availability of physicians to deliver babies in underserved areas of the State. The Department chooses to accomplish this through the following method of disbursement of financial incentives to physicians who provide services in these underserved areas.

B. Summary

The Rural Medical Access Program (RMAP) was authorized in April of 1990 with the passage of Section 5 of L.D. 2513. 24-A M.R.S.A. Ch. 75, effective on 7-14-90. This legislation provides for a program to promote the availability of physicians who deliver babies and provide prenatal care services in underserved areas. The Department will accomplish this through the development of a process for the disbursement of financial incentives to physicians who practice at least 50% of their time in underserved areas of the State. The purposes of these rules are to: (1) establish a process by which the Commissioner of Human Services determines those physicians who are eligible to receive professional liability premium assistance, and, (2) set forth the method used by the Commissioner of Human Services to identify "underserved areas" and to determine the order of priority for receipt of premium assistance for their physicians.

C. Staffing

These rules will be administered by the Office of Planning, Research and Development of the Department of Human Services.