Marvin Mandel, Governor                         979

BY THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HYGIENE, THE STATE
COMPTROLLER, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DE-
PARTMENT OF BUDGET AND PROCUREMENT FISCAL
PLANNING.

(b) In the case of patients [who have been continuously] hos-
pitalized as inpatients in any one or more public facilities for a

period in excess of 30 months within a five year period, the rate

[to be] charged [to the] responsible relatives of the patient, [where]
if payment has been made for the first 30 months' hospitalization,
shall thereafter not exceed [25%] 15% of the per capita cost. [Con-

tinuous hospitalization shall mean and include all hospitalization

where successive periods of inpatient care are not separate by

absences in excess of sixty days.]

(B) IN THE CASE OF PATIENTS [WHO HAVE BEEN]
CONTINUOUSLY HOSPITALIZED AS INPATIENTS IN ANY
ONE OR MORE PUBLIC FACILITIES FOR A PERIOD IN EX-
CESS OF 30 MONTHS, THE RATE [TO BE] CHARGED
[TO THE] RESPONSIBLE RELATIVES OF THE PATIENT,
[WHERE] IF PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE FIRST
30 MONTHS' HOSPITALIZATION, SHALL THEREAFTER NOT
EXCEED [25% OF THE PER CAPITA COST.] THE GREATER
OF:

(1)   THE SUM OF ANY PROCEEDS OF APPLICABLE IN-
SURANCE, GROUP HEALTH PLAN, OR PREPAID MEDICAL
CARE PAID BY THE INSURER OR PLAN BY REASON OF
LIABILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF OR REPAYMENT FOR
THE COST OF MEDICAL TREATMENT RENDERED THE
PATIENT, OR

(2)  15% OF THE RATE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. CONTINUOUS
HOSPITALIZATION SHALL MEAN AND INCLUDE ALL HOS-
PITALIZATION WHERE SUCCESSIVE PERIODS OF INPA-
TIENT CARE ARE NOT SEPARATED BY ABSENCES IN EX-
CESS OF [SIXTY DAYS] ONE YEAR.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1972.

Approved May 26, 1972.

CHAPTER 347
(Senate Bill 383)

AN ACT to add new Section 42A to Article 59 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1971 Supplement), (1972 REPLACEMENT
VOLUME), title "Mental Hygiene," subtitle "Financing of Mental
Health Services," to follow immediately after Section 42 thereof,
to establish a schedule for determination of payments required by
persons responsible for maintenance of mentally retarded patients
in State institutions.