MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                            2013

UNDER SUBSECTION (A).

(E) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY

ONLY IF AN INITIAL ENROLLMENT OF AT LEAST 25 CERTIFICATE

HOLDERS UNDER THE NEW OR REVISED GROUP POLICY CAN

REASONABLY BE EXPECTED.

477K.

[[EVERY INSURER WHO ISSUES OR DELIVERS A GROUP OR
BLANKET HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY IN THIS STATE SHALL OFFER
BENEFITS FOR PARTIAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION IN WHICH
THE PATIENT IS LIVING AT HOME PART OF THE TIME AND
SPENDING SOME TIME IN A TREATMENT PROGRAM.]]

(A)    AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT, EVERY

INSURER WHICH PROPOSES TO ISSUE A GROUP HOSPITAL POLICY

IN MARYLAND SHALL OFFER THE PROSPSECTIVE GROUP

POLICYHOLDER AT AN APPROPRIATE PREMIUM ADJUSTMENT, IF

ANY, THE OPTION OF PROVIDING BENEFITS FOR THE COST OF

PSYCHIATRIC CARE THROUGH PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION.

(B)    AS USED IN THIS SECTION, PARTIAL

HOSPITALIZATION MEANS A PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE OFFERED IN A
HOSPITAL OR IN A PSYCHIATRIC DAY CARE TREATMENT CENTER OR
IN A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY PROVIDING MEDICALLY
DIRECTED INTENSIVE OR INTERMEDIATE SHORT-TERM PSYCHIATRIC
TREATMENT FOR A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 24 HOURS BUT MORE
THAN 4 HOURS IN A DAY FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL PATIENT.

(C) BENEFITS SHALL PROVIDE FOR PSYCHIATRIC CARE

FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION TREATMENT

DAYS DURING ANY PERIOD OF 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

(D)   FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, ANY PROPOSED

CHANGE IN BENEFITS PROVIDED BY AN EXISTING GROUP HOSPITAL

POLICY SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PROPOSAL TO ISSUE A POLICY

UNDER SUBSECTION (A).

(E)    THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY

ONLY IF AN INITIAL ENROLLMENT OF AT LEAST 25 CERTIFICATE

HOLDERS UNDER THE NEW OR REVISED GROUP POLICY CAN

REASONABLY BE EXPECTED.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect [[July 1, 1976]] January 1, 1977.

Approved May 17, 1976.

CHAPTER 731