HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                 771

(2)  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS TITLE:

(I)  PAYMENT FOR THIS COST OF CARE SHALL BE

MADE BY THE RECIPIENT OF SERVICES OR A CHARGEABLE PERSON;
AND

(II)  THEIR LIABILITY FOR THIS PAYMENT IS
JOINT AND SEVERAL.

(3)  LIABILITY MAY NOT BE IMPOSED UNDER THIS
TITLE ON ANY SPOUSE OR CHILD OF A RECIPIENT OF SERVICES, IF
THE SPOUSE OR CHILD HAS BEEN ABANDONED BY THE RECIPIENT OF
SERVICES. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS
THAT DEFINE ABANDONMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(B)  TIME AND AMOUNT.

(1)  THE DEPARTMENT:

(I)  SHALL SET THE TIME AND AMOUNT OF
PAYMENTS; AND

(II)  MAY CHANGE ITS ORDERS AS TO PAYMENTS,
AS CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WARRANT.

(2)  IN SETTING THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS, THE
DEPARTMENT:

(I)  SHALL CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL MEANS AND
ABILITIES OF THE RECIPIENT OF SERVICES AND ANY CHARGEABLE

PERSON; AND

(II)  MAY AGREE TO ACCEPT LESS THAN THE
CHARGES SET FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED.

(C)  LIABILITY FOR CONTINUOUS HOSPITALIZATION.

(1)  IN THIS SUBSECTION,             "CONTINUOUS
HOSPITALIZATION" MEANS ALL HOSPITALIZATION WHERE  EACH PERIOD
OF INPATIENT CARE BEGINS WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE  LAST PERIOD
OF INPATIENT CARE ENDED.

(2)  IF PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE FIRST 30
MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS HOSPITALIZATION, THE LIABILITY OF A
CHARGEABLE PERSON FOR CARE OF THE RECIPIENT OF SERVICES
AFTER THAT PERIOD MAY NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF:

(I)  THE SUM OF ANY PROCEEDS OF APPLICABLE
INSURANCE, GROUP HEALTH PLAN, OR PREPAID MEDICAL CARE THAT
THE INSURER OR PLAN PAYS BECAUSE OF LIABILITY FOR THE
PAYMENT OF OR REPAYMENT FOR THE COST OF CARE PROVIDED TO THE
RECIPIENT OF SERVICES; OR

(II)  15 PERCENT OF THE CHARGES FOR

SERVICES SET UNDER § 16-201 OF THIS SUBTITLE.