182

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch.8

(1)  A REGULATORY BOARD OR AGENCY ESTABLISHED BY
STATE OR FEDERAL LAW TO LICENSE, CERTIFY, OR DISCIPLINE ANY
PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE;

(2)  A COMMITTEE OF THE MARYLAND STATE DENTAL
ASSOCIATION, THE MARYLAND DENTAL SOCIETY OR ANY OF THEIR
COMPONENT SOCIETIES, OR A COMMITTEE OF ANY OTHER
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION COMPOSED OF PROVIDERS OF
DENTAL CARE;

(3)  A COMMITTEE OF THE MEDICAL STAFF OR OTHER
COMMITTEE OF A HOSPITAL OR RELATED INSTITUTION, IF THE
GOVERNING BOARD OF THE HOSPITAL OR RELATED INSTITUTION FORMS
AND APPROVES THE COMMITTEE OR APPROVES THE WRITTEN BYLAWS
UNDER WHICH THE COMMITTEE OPERATES;

(4)  ANY PERSON, INCLUDING A PROFESSIONAL
STANDARD REVIEW ORGANIZATION, WHO CONTRACTS WITH AN AGENCY
OF THIS STATE OR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PERFORM ANY OF
THE FUNCTIONS LISTED IN SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION; OR

(5)  ANY PERSON WHO CONTRACTS WITH A PROVIDER OF
DENTAL CARE TO PERFORM ANY OF THOSE FUNCTIONS LISTED IN
SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION THAT ARE LIMITED TO THE
REVIEW OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE.

(C)  FUNCTIONS OF DENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.

FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A DENTAL REVIEW
COMMITTEE:

(1)  EVALUATES AND SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY
OF DENTAL CARE PROVIDED BY PROVIDERS OF DENTAL CARE;

(2)  EVALUATES THE NEED FOR AND THE LEVEL OF
PERFORMANCE OF DENTAL CARE PROVIDED BY PROVIDERS OF DENTAL
CARE;

(3)  EVALUATES THE QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCE,
AND PERFORMANCE OF PROVIDERS OF DENTAL CARE; OR

(4)  EVALUATES AND ACTS ON MATTERS THAT RELATE TO
THE DISCIPLINE OF ANY PROVIDER OF DENTAL CARE.

(D)  RECORDS OF DENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE NOT ADMISSIBLE
OR DISCOVERABLE -- IN GENERAL.

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, THE
PROCEEDINGS, RECORDS, AND FILES OF A DENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
ARE NOT DISCOVERABLE AND ARE NOT ADMISSIBLE IN EVIDENCE IN
ANY CIVIL ACTION ARISING OUT OF MATTERS THAT ARE BEING
REVIEWED AND EVALUATED BY THE DENTAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.

(E)  SAME -- EXCEPTIONS.

SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO: