HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      1505

(3) The effect of Subtitle 10 of the Health - General
Article on quality of care;

(4) Access to health care services provided through the use
of major medical equipment under licensing as related to
financial status of individuals;

(5) The effects of the use of major medical equipment on
health care costs under licensing requirements;

(6) Federal laws relating to the approval process for major
medical equipment;

(7) The effect of excluding health maintenance

organizations from the licensing requirements of Subtitle 10 of
the Health - General Article; and

(8) Any information the Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene deems relevant or that is requested by the General
Assembly.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Joint
Committee on Health Care Cost Containment established by Chapter

____(H.B. 1551/S.B. 655) shall study the licensing program for

major medical equipment and report to the General Assembly by
January 1, 1987 as to recommendations for continuation of the
licensing process for major medical equipment over $600,000.

Further, the Joint Committee on Health Care Cost Containment
shall study Health Maintenance Organizations with respect to
their inclusion under licensure requirements, their effectiveness
in reducing health care costs, their methods of operation, and
any other relevant information the Joint Committee deems
necessary, and shall report its findings and recommendations to
the General Assembly by January 1, 1987.

SECTION 3 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if any
provision of this Act affects the State's ability to obtain
Medicare reimbursement, then the provisions of this Act shall be
void and shall cease to be of any force or effect from the date
on which the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene receives
notice from the appropriate federal authority that Medicare
reimbursement will be denied as a result of any provision of this
Act.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if the

provisions of this Act are found to be of no further force and
effect, then appropriate action should be taken by the General
Assembly to reevaluate the State's policy for certificate of need
for major medical equipment.