WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor
Ch. 263
CHAPTER 263
(Senate Bill 107)
AN ACT concerning
Emergency Psychiatric Evaluations - Payments
FOR the purpose of altering the reimbursement methodology for
certain emergency psychiatric services provided as a
consequence of an emergency petition; providing that if the
emergency evaluee or a responsible party cannot pay or does
not have appropriate insurance for certain services, the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene shall pay for these
services at actual cost or a reasonable rate subject to
certain exceptions; providing that the reasonable rate for
services be calculated by using a methodology established by
regulation and reasonably related to the actual cost;
requiring the Department to reimburse the appropriate party
for certain services; and generally relating to the
reimbursement system for emergency psychiatric evaluations.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 10-628
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1982 Volume and 1987 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article - Health - General
10-628.
(a) (1) If an emergency evaluee OR A RESPONSIBLE PARTY
CANNOT PAY OR does not have insurance that covers the charges for
[emergency] services[, an initial consultant examination by a
physician and transportation to an emergency facility and, for an
involuntary admission of the emergency evaluee, to the admitting
facility] PROVIDED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AN EMERGENCY PETITION,
the Department shall pay the appropriate party the [median rate
paid for this service in the area of the State where the service
is provided] ACTUAL COST OR A REASONABLE RATE FOR THIS SERVICE,
WHICHEVER IS LOWER, except that hospitals shall be paid at rates
approved by the Health Services Cost Review Commission.
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