State Agencies

agency is responsible for the implementation of
the Appropriateness Review Program mandated
under federal law, which requires a review of all
health care services offered in existing institutions
once every five years to determine their appropri-
ateness. Finally, Title XVI of Public Law 93-641,
as amended, replaced previous federal hospital
construction legislation (known as the Hill-Burton
Program) with a broader program to modernize
existing facilities and to develop outpatient facili-
ties, rather than solely to construct new hospitals.
Responsibility for administering this aspect of Ti-
tle XVI is also a function of the Maryland Health
Planning and Development Agency's Program.

There are five regional Health Systems Agen-
cies—representing Western Maryland, Montgom-
ery County, Southern Maryland, Central Mary-
land, and the Eastern Shore—that coordinate
their autonomous yet interdependent health plan-
ning functions with the State agency. All such re-
gional agencies have full designation by the feder-
al government and carry out their responsibilities
under federal law, including Appropriateness Re-
view.

The Statewide Health Coordinating Council,
formerly the Advisory Council, is empowered to
approve the Annual State Health Plan required
by Public Law 93-641, as amended, as well as the
budget of the Health Systems Agencies. The
Statewide Health Coordinating Council also has
approval power over certain federal programs un-
der the Public Health Services Act, the Compre-
hensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Preven-
tion Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970,
and the Community Mental Centers Act. In addi-
tion, the Council has an advisory role in regulato-
ry programs and the operation of the State agen-
cy generally. The full Statewide Health Coordi-
nating Council meets six times each year, but six
standing committees meet regularly to carry out
Statewide Health Coordinating Council responsi-
bilities. The membership of the Statewide Health
Coordinating Council is composed of health pro-
viders and consumers appointed by the Governor.

All responsibilities and functions served by and
through the actions of the Maryland Comprehen-
sive Health Planning Agency prior to May 29,
1978, are now the responsibilities and functions
of the Maryland Health Planning and Develop-
ment Agency. The titular change of the Agency
effective May 29, 1978, from the Comprehensive
Health Planning Agency to the Maryland Health
Planning and Development Agency in no way di-
minished the Agency's principal responsibility to
develop the Health Plan of Maryland and to fa-
cilitate and authorize the planned development of

Health and Mental Hygiene/183

health resources and services to the citizens of
Maryland (Code 1957, Art. 41, secs. 59C-59L;
Art. 43, sec. 559a-l).

OFFICE OF REGULATORY SERVICES

Joseph R. Noll, Sr., Director

201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-6197

The Office of Regulatory Services has four com-
ponents, consisting of the licensing, certification,
or accreditation of health facilities and community
health programs, the examination and licensing of
health professionals, assurance of equal access to
health care services, and advocacy for develop-
mentally disabled persons in Maryland. Each of
these responsibilities has as its primary goal the
upgrading of health care services in Maryland.

DIVISION OF LICENSING AND
CERTIFICATION

Harold Gordon, Chief

201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-2517

As a major component of the Office of Regula-
tory Services and the Assistant Secretariat for
Health Regulation and Policy Analysis, the Li-
censing and Certification Division is responsible
for licensure of all hospitals and health-related in-
stitutions in Maryland. Additionally, the Division
is responsible for certification recommendations
for all facilities participating in the Medicaid and
Medicare Programs. The Division inspects facili-
ties and provides consultation and education for
all health facility staffs. The Division is responsi-
ble for initiating administrative action against
those facilities not in compliance with State rules
and regulations.

OFFICE OF TITLE VI COMPLIANCE

Leonard H. Yorke, Director

201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-2725

As part of the regulatory services function, this
Office exercises Department-wide responsibilities
in assuring that no client of any federally-assisted
program will be discriminated against because of
race, color, or national origin.