3484

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 591

AN ACT concerning

Insurance - Compilation and Maintenance of Data

FOR the purpose of repealing requirements that the Insurance
Commissioner obtain, compile, and publish data on fees
and rates charged in this State and that insurers
provide the Commissioner with that data; repealing
requirements that the Commissioner obtain, compile, and
publish data deemed useful to the consumer in this
State which relates to the cost of health insurance and
the extent of insurance coverage; and repealing
requirements that the Commissioner obtain, compile, and
publish data relating to life insurance in this State.

BY repealing

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 26A, 26B, and 26C
Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
read(s) as follows:

Article 48A - Insurance Code

[26A.

(a)  The Commissioner shall obtain and compile data
sufficient to establish the range of usual, customary and
reasonable fees and rates charged patients in Maryland by
physicians, surgeons, dentists, private duty nurses,
psychiatrists, podiatrists, and, in the Commissioner's
discretion, any other classification of providers of medical
services. All such data whether published or not, and
whether for aggregates or individual providers, shall be a
public record available for inspection in the office of the
Commissioner.

(b)  The Commissioner shall collect, maintain and
update this data and shall at least once in each calendar
year publish in pamphlet or booklet form as much of this
data or information as he deems useful and practicable. Such
publication shall show data for aggregates of providers
rather than for individuals. The Commissioner may show the
data by geographic areas if he deems such subdivision will
serve a useful purpose.

(c)  Copies of the pamphlet or booklet shall be
forwarded by the Commissioner to any Maryland resident. The
Commissioner may charge a reasonable fee to cover the cost