CHAPTER 589
(Senate Bill 641)

AN ACT concerning

Health Insurance - Carriers and Credentialing Intermediaries - Uniform

Credentialing Form

FOR the purpose of requiring a carrier or its credentialing intermediary to accept a
certain form for certain purposes; requiring a carrier or its credentialing
intermediary to make available a certain form to a health care provider that is
to be credentialed or recredentialed by that carrier or credentialing
intermediary; establishing a task force to select the uniform credentialing form;
providing for the membership, responsibilities, and duration of the task force;
requiring the task force to submit a certain report by a certain date; requiring
the Insurance Commissioner to designate a uniform credentialing form under
certain circumstances; requiring the Commissioner to adopt certain regulations
and make certain considerations; providing for the termination of a portion of
this Act; providing for a delayed effective date; authorizing the Commissioner to
impose a certain penalty for a violation of this Act; defining certain terms; and
generally relating to the use of a uniform credentialing form by a health
insurance carrier and credentialing intermediaries.

BY adding to

Article - Insurance

Section 15-112.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Volume and 1998 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Insurance

15-112.1.

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2) (I) "CARRIER" MEANS:

1. AN INSURER;

2. A NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLAN;

3. A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION;

4. A DENTAL PLAN ORGANIZATION; OR

5. ANY OTHER PERSON THAT PROVIDES HEALTH BENEFIT
PLANS SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE STATE.