comprehensive standard health benefit plan; de-
vises a payment system for health care services; and
fosters development of practice parameters. The
Commission also facilitates public disclosure of
medical claims data for the development of public
policy; maintains and analyzes a medical care data
base on health care provided by health care practi-
tioners; and ensures the use of that data base as a
primary means to compile data and annually report
on trends, variances, and comparisons regarding
fees for service, cost of care, and malpractice. Addi-
tionally, the Commission encourages the develop-
ment of clinical resource management systems that
permit cost comparisons between various treat-
ment settings and the availability of information to
consumers, providers, and purchasers of health
care; sets standards for the operation and licensing
of medical care electronic claims clearinghouses;
and reduces the costs of submitting and administer-
ing claims for health care practitioners and payers.
With Senate advice and consent, the Governor
appoints the Commission's seven members to four-
year terms. The Governor also designates the chair-
person (Code Health—General Article, secs.
19-1501 through 19-1516).

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
PRACTICE PARAMETERS

(410) 764-3460

The Advisory Committee on Practice Parameters
was established in 1993 (Chapter 9, Acts of 1993).
The Committee is to study the development of prac-
tice parameters for medical specialties and advise the
Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission
on the adoption and use of practice parameters. These
parameters are intended to define appropriate clinical
indications and methods of treatment for individual
procedures or diseases that are subject to medical
malpractice litigation. The parameters are meant to
discourage inappropriate use; conform with standards
of care; and meet certification, licensure or accredita-
tion standards.
The Committee's fifteen members are appointed
to four-year terms by the Governor, who designates
the chairperson (Code Health—General Article,
secs. 19-1601 through 19-1606).

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BOARDS
& COMMISSIONS PROGRAM

John B. Schell, Facilitator

4201 Patterson Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21215—2299 (410) 764-4712

The Division of Boards and Commissions was
reorganized in 1986 as the Office of Boards and
Commission Programs and, in 1993, as the Health

Professionals Boards and Commissions Program.
The Program is responsible for the examination,
licensing, regulation, and surveillance of health pro-
fessionals in Maryland.
Under the Program are fifteen licensing and
regulatory boards and one commission:

State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing
Aid Dispensers, & Speech-Language Pathologists
State Board of Chiropractic Examiners
State Board of Dental Examiners
State Board of Dietetic Practice
State Board of Electrologists
State Commission on Kidney Disease
State Board of Morticians
State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home
Administrators
State Board of Occupational Therapy Practice
State Board of Examiners in Optometry
State Board of Pharmacy
State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners
State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
State Board of Social Work Examiners

STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR
AUDIOLOGISTS, HEARING AID DISPENSERS,
& SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS
John M. Sloan, Chairperson, 1995
Barbara A. Curtis, Administrator

4201 Patterson Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21215—2299 (410) 764-4725

The State Board of Examiners for Audiologists,
Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pa-
thologists originated from three separate boards.
The first was the Board of Examiners for Hearing
Aid Dealers, formed in 1969 and placed within the
Department of Licensing and Regulation in 1970
(Chapter 634, Acts of 1969; Chapter 402, Acts of
1970). The other two boards—the State Board of
Examiners for Audiologists, and the Board of Ex-
aminers for Speech Pathologists—both were
formed in 1972 within the Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene (Chapter 547, Acts of 1972).
In 1987, the speech pathologists' board was re-
named the State Board of Examiners for Speech-
Language Pathologists (Chapter 478, Acts of
1987). All three boards merged in 1992 to become
the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists,
Hearing Aid Dealers, and Speech-Language Pa-
thologists within the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene (Chapter 326, Acts of 1992). In
1993, the Board received its present name (Chapter
448, Acts of 1993). The Board licenses audiolo-
gists, hearing aid dispensers, and speech-language
pathologists.