Ch. 332

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(4) (i) "Provider of health care" means any person
who is licensed by law to provide health care to individuals.

(ii) "Provider of health care" does not include
any nursing institution that is conducted by and for those who
rely on treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone in
accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church
or religious denomination.

(b)  For purposes of this section, a medical review
committee is:

(1)  A regulatory board or agency established by State
or federal law to license, certify, or discipline any provider of
health care;

(2)  A committee of the Faculty or any of its
component societies or a committee of any other professional
society or association composed of providers of health care;

(3)  A committee appointed by or established in a
local health department for review purposes;

(4)  A committee of the medical staff or other
committee, including any risk management, credentialing, or
utilization review committee established in accordance with §
19-319 of the Health - General Article, of a hospital, related
institution, or alternative health care system, if the governing
board of the hospital, related institution, or alternative health
care system forms and approves the committee or approves the
written bylaws under which the committee operates;

(5)  Any person, including a professional standard
review organization, who contracts with an agency of this State
or of the federal government to perform any of the functions
listed in subsection (c) of this section; or

(6)  Any person who contracts with a provider of
health care to perform any of 'those functions listed in
subsection (c) of this section that are limited to the review of
services provided by the provider of health care.

(c)  For purposes of this section, a medical review
committee:

(1)  Evaluates and seeks to improve the quality of
health care provided by providers of health care;

(2)  Evaluates the need for and the level of
performance of health care provided by providers of health care;

(3)  Evaluates the qualifications, competence, and
performance of providers of health care; or

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