1394

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 276

(3) THE COMMISSIONER MAY EXAMINE UNDER OATH
OR AFFIRMATION THE OFFICERS, AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND
SUBSCRIBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND ALL OTHER PERSONS
HAVING OR HAVING HAD SUBSTANTIAL PART IN THE WORK OF THE
ORGANIZATION OR ANY RELATION TO ITS AFFAIRS,
TRANSACTIONS, AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.

(G) THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE,
UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE BY LAW, IS AUTHORIZED TO
PROMULGATE RULES AND STANDARDS PERTAINING TO THE QUALITY
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THEIR HEALTH CARE PLANS, THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE MAY CONDUCT
PERIODIC EXAMINATIONS TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH
CARE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY THE ORGANIZATION, AND TO
DEVELOP STATISTICAL INFORMATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULES
AND PROCEDURES APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
MENTAL HYGIENE, UTILIZING METHODS WHICH WILL PROVIDE
MAXIMUM CONFIDENTIALITY AS TO PATIENT IDENTITY AND ASSURE
OBJECTIVE EVALUATION, CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 844 OF THIS SUBTITLE.

848.

(A)    THE HEALTH SERVICES COST REVIEW COMMISSION
SHALL PROVIDE THE COMMISSIONER AND THE SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, ON A TIMELY BASIS, FINANCIAL
INFORMATION IT ACQUIRES WITH RESPECT TO AIL HOSPITALS AND
RELATED INSTITUTIONS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION, AS DEFINED
IN ARTICLE 43, SECTION 556 OF THIS CODE, WHICH ARE
SUBJECT TO THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)     WHEN REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OR THE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, THE COMMISSION
SHALL FURNISH ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS REGULATED UNDER THIS
SUBTITLE WHICH IT IS AUTHORIZED TO ACQUIRE.

849.

(A)     TO PROVIDE FOR THE COOPERATIVE AND EFFICIENT
COORDINATION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES, THE
COMMISSIONER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL
HYGIENE SHALL FORMULATE AND MAINTAIN JOINT INTERNAL
ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND PROCEDURES TO FACILITATE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SUBTITLE.

(B)      (1) IN ADDITION TO THIS SUBTITLE, THE
PRIMARY BASIS FOR THESE JOINT INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES AND PROCEDURES ARE THE APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND
REGULATIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE DIVISION OF INSURANCE,
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION, BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, AND BY FEDERAL AGENCIES
WITH ANY OVERRIDING OR PREEMPTIVE FEDERAL LAWS AND