AUGUSTA – A tax on unhealthy food; electronic medical records for all doctors, hospitals and other providers; and a cap on how much profits hospitals could make are among a number of changes expected to be voted on today by a hospital commission.

“Our report will not recommend any hospital closings. We’ve already decided that,” said William Haggett, chairman of the Commission to Study Maine’s Hospitals.

The commission will meet today at the State Office Building to vote on draft recommendations it will make to legislators next month or in February, said Haggett, former head of the Bath Iron Works.

Maine’s 39 hospitals are part of the unaffordable health care problem in Maine, he said.

“Hospital spending in Maine equals $2.7 billion this year. If you look at 2001 through 2003, hospital spending in Maine increased about 10 percent per year,” Haggett said, adding that increase is not sustainable.

The hospital commission is a part of Dirigo, Gov. John Baldacci’s signature program to try to make health care more affordable and accessible.

In the last year Haggett said he has visited 25 out of 39 hospitals, “and our committee’s had 50 meetings. … I took this job realizing that the cost of health care is a significant problem in Maine. Hospitals represent about 35 percent of the total health costs in Maine.” Haggett said he hopes the commission’s recommendations will lead to lower costs, improved quality of care and increased access to the more than 130,000 Mainers who go without coverage, “hopefully in a constructive manner.”

Haggett acknowledged some of the recommended changes could prove controversial.

Other topics the commission may consider today include creating a commission to study malpractice insurance in Maine; mandating the public financial disclosures of hospitals, which would include the compensation of the five highest paid for each hospital; mergers or new roles for some hospitals; boosting the amount of federal money Maine receives for Medicare reimbursement; helping hospitals create community wellness programs; and stronger state reviews before hospitals could expand.

Besides Haggett, others who serve on the commission include representatives of hospitals and other health providers, people who head health insurance programs for teachers and state workers, senior citizens and consumers of all ages.

After voting today on its draft recommendations, Haggett said the commission will hold public hearings in Bangor, Augusta and Portland later this month. The commission will present its findings to lawmakers for consideration this session.