<Section effective until July 1, 2025. See, also, section 5-5A-08 effective July 1, 2025.>
Definitions
(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “CMN Program” means the Critical Medical Needs Program established under this section.
(3) “Critical medically vulnerable individual” means an individual who:
(i) has a severe health condition that will be aggravated due to the termination or noncontinuation of electric or gas service or needs the use of life-support equipment as documented and certified in accordance with regulations on a certification of serious illness or life support form submitted to the appropriate electric or gas company;
(ii) has or will have their electric or gas service terminated for nonpayment; and
(iii) is unable to complete the energy assistance applications under available energy assistance programs, including energy efficiency programs offered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
(4) “Navigator” means a representative from a medical facility or from a public or private assistance agency or organization who:
(i) 1. is in personal contact with a critical medically vulnerable individual; and
2. assists the critical medically vulnerable individual in the energy assistance application process; or
(ii) has completed training through the Pilot Program established under subsection (g) of this section.
(5) “Pilot Program” means the Power to the People Pilot Program established under this section.
In general
(b)(1) There is a CMN Program in the Office.
(2) The Office shall implement and administer the CMN Program.
(3) In administering the CMN Program, the Office shall partner with the Office of People's Counsel, the Fuel Fund of Central Maryland, the Cancer Support Foundation, electric and gas companies, nonprofit organizations, other State agencies, the health care community, and any other organization that the Office determines appropriate.
(4) The purpose of the CMN Program is to reduce the barriers to the energy assistance application process for critical medically vulnerable individuals and their households in obtaining State and federal financial assistance for their electric, gas, or other energy source bills so that their electric, gas, or other energy source service continues or is restored.
Navigators to assist medically vulnerable individuals
(c)(1) The CMN Program shall facilitate assistance to critical medically vulnerable individuals and their households in obtaining State and federal financial assistance for their electric, gas, or other energy source bills through navigators.
(2) The Office shall determine qualifications and establish training requirements for navigators.
(3) The Office shall train navigators or facilitate the training of navigators by others.
Implementation of medical hold on electric or gas service and expedited process to grant extension of or for restoration of electric or gas service
(d) In accordance with the requirements set forth in the Code of Maryland Regulations, the Office shall work with electric and gas companies to implement, for critical medically vulnerable individuals:
(1) a medical hold on electric or gas service or an expedited process to grant the extension of electric or gas service for those who will have their electric or gas services terminated; and
(2) an expedited process for the restoration of electric or gas service for those who have had their electric or gas service terminated.
Time allowed to provide certification of health condition
(e) If a critical medically vulnerable individual is at least 60 years old and assisted by a navigator when applying to participate in the CMN Program, the Office shall allow the individual 90 days after applying for assistance to provide certification from a medical provider of the severe health condition.
Tracking system of the status of Program participants
(f) The Office shall establish a tracking system of the status of critical medically vulnerable individuals who participate in the CMN Program.
Power to the People Pilot Program
(g)(1) On or before July 1, 2022, the Office, in coordination with the United Way of Central Maryland and the Fuel Fund of Maryland, shall establish the Power to the People Pilot Program.
(2) The purpose of the Pilot Program is to expand access to the CMN Program.
(3) The Pilot Program shall provide training for 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline intake specialists and case managers to serve as navigators.
(4) The United Way of Central Maryland shall establish a screening intake process to identify callers to the 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline who may be critical medically vulnerable individuals.
(5) 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline intake specialists shall:
(i) conduct basic screening to determine whether the caller is a critical medically vulnerable individual;
(ii) assist critical medically vulnerable individuals and their households with:
1. the collection of materials and information required to complete an application for energy assistance; and
2. the completion and submission of applications for energy assistance; and
(iii) refer individuals who are unable to pay their utility bills to the Fuel Fund of Maryland for additional cash assistance and community resources.
(6) The Fuel Fund of Maryland shall:
(i) coordinate with the Office and the United Way of Central Maryland to assist critical medically vulnerable individuals with paying any remaining balance owed on their electric, gas, or other energy source bills; and
(ii) provide additional cash assistance and community resources to critical medically vulnerable individuals.
(7)(i) For fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $80,000 to the Office for the Pilot Program.
(ii) The funds appropriated under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall be used to hire:
1. one part-time intake specialist for the 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline;
2. one part-time case manager for the 2-1-1 Maryland United Way Helpline; and
3. one part-time project coordinator at the Fuel Fund of Maryland.
Regulations
(h) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this section.
Credits
Added by Acts 2019, c. 282, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 283, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. Amended by Acts 2021, c. 109, § 5; Acts 2021, c. 380, § 1, eff. June 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 381, § 1, eff. June 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 453, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2021, c. 454, § 1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2022, c. 135, § 1, eff. April 12, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 665, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 666, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2022.
MD Code, Human Services, § 5-5A-08, MD HUMAN SERV § 5-5A-08
Current through legislation effective through April 25, 2024, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
