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1470 LAWS OF MARYLAND Ch. 359
Approved May 2, 1978.
CHAPTER 360
(Bouse Bill 899)
AN ACT concerning
Hospital and Nursing Home Billing Procedures
FOR the purpose of requiring hospitals and nursing hones to
furnish an itemized bill on demand following payment;
and specifying a penalty for failing to do so within a
certain time.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 43 - Health
Section 556B
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1971 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:
Article 43 - Health
556B.
(A) All hospitals as defined within this article,
with the exception of those operated by the State of
Maryland or any of its political subdivisions, shall present
to each patient upon demand within 30 days after discharge,
an itemized account, or itemized bill briefly but clearly
describing each item and the amount charged. All nursing
homes as defined within this article shall present to each
patient or his representative upon demand within 30 days
from rendering of service an itemized account or itemized
bill briefly but clearly describing each item and the amount
charged. No nursing home shall be required to furnish the
itemized statement to any patient more than once in any
30—day period. The hospital or nursing home may not demand
or receive final payment of, or recover for, money due until
an itemized account or itemized bill is presented. The
provisions of this section shall not apply to nursing homes
that contract with their patients to provide care for an all
inclusive preestablished fee.
(B) ALL HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES COVERED BY THIS
SECTION SHALL PRESENT TO EACH PATIENT OF HIS REPRESENTATIVE
UPON DEMAND WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER PAYMENT OF ANY CHARGES, AN
ITEMIZED ACCOUNT OR ITEMIZED BILL BRIEFLY BUT CLEARLY
DESCRIBING EACH ITEM AND THE AMOUNT CHARGED. FAILURE TO
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