§ 19-214.4. Medical bill reimbursement for patients qualified for free care
West's Annotated Code of MarylandHealth--GeneralEffective: July 1, 2023
Effective: July 1, 2023
MD Code, Health - General, § 19-214.4
§ 19-214.4. Medical bill reimbursement for patients qualified for free care
(a) The Commission, in coordination with the Department, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, the State Department of Education, the Health Education and Advocacy Unit, and the Maryland Hospital Association, shall develop a process that:
(4) Determines how the Commission, the Department, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, and the State Department of Education should share with or disclose relevant information, including tax information, to the minimum extent necessary, to the hospital and in accordance with federal and State confidentiality laws for the purpose of carrying out the process developed under this subsection.
(b) The Health Education Advocacy Unit in the Office of the Attorney General shall assist patients identified under subsection (a) of this section in obtaining reimbursement under this section.
(c)(1) The process developed under subsection (a) of this section:
(d)(1) The Commission may modify the process developed under subsection (a) of this section as necessary.
(e) The Department, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, the State Department of Education, and each hospital shall report information on the process developed under this section to the Commission, in the time and manner determined by the Commission.
(f)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission, the Department, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, the State Department of Education, and each hospital shall disclose to:
(ii) The Health Education and Advocacy Unit relevant information necessary for the Health Education and Advocacy Unit to assist patients in obtaining reimbursement under subsection (a) of this section, on receipt of the patient's executed authorization for release of medical information form provided by the Health Education and Advocacy Unit or other authorization form required by the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, or the State Department of Education.
(2) If the Health Education and Advocacy Unit requests information from the Commission, the Department, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, the State Department of Education, or a hospital to assist a patient in obtaining reimbursement under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission, the Department, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the Comptroller, the State Department of Education, or the hospital shall provide the information to the Health Education and Advocacy Unit within 10 business days after the date of the receipt of the request.
(g)(1)(i) On or before January 1, 2023, and October 1, 2024, the Commission shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, on the development and implementation by hospitals of the process required under subsection (a) of this section.
(2)(i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, each hospital the Commission, the Office of the Comptroller, the Department, the Department of Human Services, and the State Department of Education shall implement Option 3 from the “Free Hospital Care Refund Process” report submitted by the Commission in December 2022 as required under paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection and in accordance with this section and § 13-203(c) of the Tax--General Article.
(h)(1) Each hospital shall reimburse the Commission, the Office of the Comptroller, the Department, the Department of Human Services, the State Department of Education, and the Health Education Advocacy Unit in the Office of the Attorney General for the costs incurred by each State entity in complying with this section.
(i)(1)(i) If a hospital fails to provide refunds to patients who qualify under subsection (g)(2) of this section as required, the Commission may impose a fine not exceeding $50,000 per violation.
Credits
Added by Acts 2022, c. 683, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022. Amended by Acts 2023, c. 310, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023; Acts 2023, c. 311, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.
MD Code, Health - General, § 19-214.4, MD HEALTH GEN § 19-214.4
Current through legislation effective through June 1, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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