2760

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 352

Chapter 854 of the laws of 1980 requires facilities
that provide for the treatment of alcoholism to be certified
by the Alcoholism Control Administration within the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene before insurance
reimbursement is available for those facilities. Various
federal acts require the states to certify alcoholism
treatment programs in order to qualify for federal funds. A
failure to certify these programs places federal funds in
jeopardy.

Although Chapter 621 of the laws of 1981 enacted a
program to certify alcoholism and alcohol abuse facilities
within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, that
program, as enacted, does not take effect until July 1,
1983.

The General Assembly finds that there is an urgent need
to accelerate the implementation date of the alcoholism
certification program to insure the health, safety and
welfare of the citizens of Maryland who are being treated at
alcoholism and alcohol abuse facilities and to insure that
insurance reimbursement is available to individuals being
treated at those facilities.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That chapter(s) of the Acts of the General
Assembly read(s) as follows:

Chapter 621 of the Acts of 1981

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, [1983.] 1982.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That section(s)
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (as enacted by Chapter

____ (H.B. 200) of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1982)

read(s) as follows:

Article - Health - General

8-411.

(a)   In this section, "alcohol abuse facility":

(1)  Means any facility that provides treatment,
care, and rehabilitation for individuals who show the
effects of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; and

(2)   Includes a facility that is owned or
operated by this State or any of its political subdivisions.

(b)  This section does not apply to: