BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor

2881

(D) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TO PLACEMENT OF THE PATIENTS

MENTIONED IN SUBSECTION (A) THE DEPARTMENT MAY MAKE PAYMENT
FOR CARE OF SUCH PATIENTS IN THE PATIENT'S HOME OR IN A HOME

OF A RELATIVE, FRIEND, NEIGHBOR, OR OTHER PERSON PROVIDED

SUCH HOMES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS BEING A

SATISFACTORY ENVIRONMENT FOR SUCH PLACEMENT. THE DEPARTMENT

OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM IS HEREBY

AUTHORIZED TO MAKE PAYMENT FOR SUCH SERVICES IN A FOSTER

CARE HOME SO DESIGNATED, BASED UPON THE NEEDS OF THE PERSON

OR PERSONS WHO ARE PLACED IN SUCH A FACILITY. IN ANY EVENT,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT MAKE PAYMENT AT A RATE HIGHER THAN

THAT PAID FOR CARE IN A LONG-TERM INTERMEDIATE (A) CARE

FACILITY. THE DEPARTMENT AS A PART OF THIS PROGRAM SHALL

MAKE MONTHLY VISITS TO ENSURE THAT THE FACILITY AND PERSONS

OPERATING THE FACILITY ARE PROVIDING ADEQUATE CARE, BASED

UPON AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PATIENT'S NEEDS.

(D) BY JANUARY JULY 1, 1979 THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

AND MENTAL HYGIENE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S

OFFICE ON AGING, SHALL SUBMIT PLANS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FOR THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT OF PATIENTS MENTIONED IN

SUBSECTION (A) IN HOMES OF RELATIVES AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE
PERSONS WILLING TO PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY ENVIRONMENT FOR
SUCH PLACEMENT BASED UPON THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL
PATIENT. THESE PLANS SHALL INCLUDE A MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR
THE TIMELY EVALUATION OF THE SUPERVISION REQUIRED FOR
INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act

shall take effect July 1, 1978.

Approved May 29, 1978.

CHAPTER 1002

(House Bill 727)

AN ACT concerning

Institutes Educational Programs for the
Handicapped — Standards

FOR the purpose of prohibiting the State Board of Education
from establishing standards for nonpublic institutes of
education for the handicapped that are different from
standards for public educational institutes for the
handicapped requiring that standards established by the

State Board of Education for the approval of

educational programs for__the handicapped located

outside Maryland be the same standards applicable to

programs located within Maryland; and prohibiting
approval of any program located outside Maryland if the

charges for pupils approved for placement are higher

than charges for pupils from any other State for the