260                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                  Ch. 125

STATE OF MARYLAND THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF WHICH
COINCIDE WITH THOSE OF TWO OR MORE ADJACENT COUNTIES.

875.

[[(A) THE COUNTIES WITHIN A REGION ARE AUTHORIZED TO
FORM A JOINT COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PLANNING AGENCY. THE
FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE AGENCY, WHEN ESTABLISHED,
ARE TO ACHIEVE EQUAL ACCESS BY CITIZENS TO QUALITY HEALTH
CARE AT REASONABLE COST; TO PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE SERVICES
FOR MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE
LOCATED IN RURAL OR ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREAS; TO
DEVELOP MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS FOR COORDINATING AND
CONSOLIDATING INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES; TO DEVELOP
MEDICAL GROUP PRACTICES, HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER ORGANIZED SYSTEMS FOR THE
PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRAINING AND
INCREASED UTILIZATION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, ESPECIALLY
NURSE CLINICIANS; TO DEVELOP MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SHARING OF SUPPORT SERVICES REQUIRED
BY HEALTH SERVICE INSTITUTIONS; AND SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS
AND ACTIVITIES AS ARE CONTEMPLATED BY PUBLIC LAW 93-641
AND THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.]]

(A) THE COUNTIES WITHIN A REGION ARE AUTHORIZED TO
FORM A JOINT COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PLANNING AGENCY FOR THE
PURPOSE OF:

(1)    IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS OF THE
REGION,

(2)    INCREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY (INCLUDING

OVERCOMING__GEOGRAPHIC, ARCHITECTURAL, AND TRANSPORTATION

BARRIERS), ACCEPTABILITY,___CONTINUITY, AND QUALITY OF

HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED THEM,

(3) RESTRAINING INCREASES IN THE COST OF

PROVIDING THEM HEALTH SERVICES,

(4) PREVENTING UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION OF
HEALTH RESOURCES,

(5) PROVIDING EFFECTIVE HEALTH PLANNING FOR

THE REGION,

(6) PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE
REGION OF HEALTH SERVICES, MANPOWER, AND FACILITIES WHICH
MEET IDENTIFIED NEEDS, REDUCE DOCUMENTED INEFFICIENCIES,
AND IMPLEMENT THE HEALTH PLANS OF THE AGENCY, AND

(7) CARRYING OUT SUCH OTHER FUNCTIONS AND

ACTIVITIES___AS ARE CONTEMPLATED BY PUBLIC LAW 93-641 AND

THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.

[[(B) THE AGENCY SHALL INCLUDE A GOVERNING BOARD
WHOSE MEMBERS SHALL INCLUDE NO FEWER THAN THREE PERSONS

AND NO LESS THAN ONE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH
COUNTY IN THE REGION.]]