An Act To Expand Direct Health Care Service Arrangements

This bill amends Maine law to expand access to direct primary care by removing the requirement that a provider must be specifically authorized to offer primary care services. It allows any licensed physician or advanced health care practitioner to enter into direct primary care agreements with patients, where patients pay a fixed fee directly for services like routine checkups and chronic condition management - without the provider billing insurance for those services. The bill also clarifies that direct care arrangements are not insurance, do not satisfy federal health coverage requirements, and removes barriers preventing providers from simultaneously offering direct care and other services (such as working with insurers or participating in state pilot programs). This change directly affects patients seeking affordable primary care options and providers choosing to operate outside traditional insurance models.