treatment for individual procedures or diseases that
are subject to medical malpractice litigation The
parameters are meant to discourage inappropriate
use of health care services, conform with standards
of care, and meet certification, licensure or accredi-
tation standards
The Committee's fifteen members are ap-
pointed to four year terms by the dovernor, who
designates the chair (Code Health—General Arti
cle, sees 19 1601 through 19 1606)

STATE HEALTH RESOURCES
PLANNING COMMISSION

George S Malouf, Sr , M D , Chair, 1997
James R Stanton, Executive Director

4201 Patterson Ave , Room 226
Baltimore, MD 21215 (410) 764 3255

The State Health Resources Planning Commis-
sion originated in 1968 as the Comprehensive
Health Planning Agency (Chapter 221, Acts of
1968) The Agency was reformed as the Maryland
Health Planning and Development Agency in 1978
(Chapter 911, Acts of 1978) In 1982, the State
Health Resources Planning Commission replaced
the Agency (Chapter 108, Acts of 1982)
The Commission promotes the development of
a health care system that provides quality care at
reasonable cost for all citizens The Commission
plans the development of quality health services
within each health service area to meet current and
future needs, identifies essential resources, and en
courages the effective use of those resources The
Commission advocates policies and systems for ef
ficient access to services, including acute, long
term, mental health, primary care, and
community based alternatives The Commission
also coordinates its work with the State Health
Services Lost Review Commission and the Mary
land Health Care Access and Cost Commission and
assesses the impact of plans and projects on total
health care costs to Maryland and its citizens In
addition, the Commission prepares the State
Health Plan and conducts the Certificate of Need
Program to assure that institutions meet standards
of public need before constructing new facilities
The law creating the Commission also estab
lished local health planning agencies to serve health
service areas designated by the Governor These
agencies are required to assure broad citizen repre
sentation of their region and in their activities,
formulate local health plans, and help develop state
wide criteria and standards for Certificate of Need
and health planning
The Commission has fourteen members Thir
teen are appointed to four year terms by the Gov-
ernor The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene

serves ex officio The Governor names the chair
With the Governor's approval, the Commission
appoints the Executive Director (Code Health—
General Article, sees 19 103 through 19 122)

STATE HEALTH SERVICES COST
REVIEW COMMISSION

Charles O Fisher, Sr , Esq , Chair, 1997
Robert B Murray, Executive Director

4201 Patterson Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215 (410) 764 2605

The State Health Services Cost Review Commis-
sion was established in 1971 to monitor all fiscal affairs
of Maryland's hospitals and related institutions
(Chapter 627, Acts of 1971) The Commission pub-
licly may disclose a hospital's financial position, its
verified total costs incurred in rendering health serv
ices, and the level of reasonableness of its rates as
determined by Commission review and certification
The Commission also evaluates the adequacy of each
institution's financial resources to meet its financial
requirements When these resources are inadequate,
the Commission seeks solutions
The Commission assures purchasers of hospital
health care that total costs are reasonable, that
aggregate rates are set in relation to the hospital's
aggregate costs, and that rates are set equitably
among all purchasers of services
The Commission consists of seven members
appointed to four year terms by the Go\ ernor, who
names the chair Authorization for the Commission
continues until July 1, 2003 (Code Health—Gen
eral Article, sees 19 201 through 19 222)

BUSINESS & REGULATORY
SERVICES

Ferner R. Stillman, Assistant Secretary
for Business & Regulatory Services

201 West Preston St
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 767 6566

Business and Regulatory Services was created in
1995 The Assistant Secretary oversees the health
regulatory functions of the Department and directs
the Department regulatory and licensing pro
grams This entails oversight of the Office ofRegu
lations Coordination, the administrative functions
of the Board of Review, the Office of Appointments
and Executive Nominations, the Office of I icens-
ing and Certification Programs, and the Policy and
Health Statistics Administration Working with the
health professionals boards and the State Commis-
sion on Kidney Disease, the Assistant Secretary
serves as a liaison with the business community