1532

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 109

(I) (1) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS
ARTICLE, ANY ACTION TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR THE
PAYMENT OF PUBLIC BODY OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
MAINTAINING THE CREDIT RATING OF THIS STATE, ITS AGENCIES,
INSTRUMENTALITIES, AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, ENSURING THEIR
ACCESS TO THE CREDIT MARKETS, AND MAY NOT CONSTITUTE ANY PAYMENT
BY OR ON. BEHALF OF A CLOSED OR DELICENSED HOSPITAL. A HOSPITAL
IS NOT RELIEVED OF ITS OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PAYMENT OF
PUBLIC BODY OBLIGATIONS. THE AUTHORITY SHALL BE SUBROGATED TO
THE RIGHTS OF ANY HOLDERS OR ISSUERS OF PUBLIC BODY OBLIGATIONS,
AS IF THE PAYMENT OR PROVISION FOR PAYMENT HAD NOT BEEN MADE.

(2) ANY AMOUNT REALIZED BY THE AUTHORITY OR ANY
ASSIGNEE OF THE AUTHORITY IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY CLAIM AGAINST
A HOSPITAL FOR WHICH A PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE APPLIED TO OFFSET THE
AMOUNT OF THE FEE REQUIRED TO BE ASSESSED BY THE HEALTH SERVICES
COST REVIEW COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (H) OF THIS
SECTION. THE COSTS AND EXPENSES OF ENFORCING THE CLAIM,
INCLUDING ANY COSTS FOR MAINTAINING THE PROPERTY PRIOR TO ITS
DISPOSITION, SHALL BE DEDUCTED FROM THIS AMOUNT.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That immediately

upon adoption of the Institution Specific Plan required by this
Act, the Health Resources Planning Commission shall begin the
process of incorporating the Institution Specific Plan into the
State Health Plan and shall complete the incorporation within 12
months.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Secretary of
Health and Mental Hygiene shall report to the General Assembly by
December 1, 1985 on the efforts to accomplish voluntary closures,
mergers, and consolidations where necessary, and on the need or
lack of need to exercise delicensure authority where the action
is necessary,

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the President of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall
appoint 5 Senators and 5 Delegates, respectively, to serve as the
Joint Committee on Health Care Cost Containment. The Joint
Committee shall be staffed by the Department of Legislative
Reference and the Department of Fiscal Services. The Joint
Committee, along with the AELR Committee, shall review, prior to
publication in the Maryland Register, any regulations relating to
hospital closures, mergers, and consolidations proposed pursuant
to this Act and any regulations relating to minimum standards for
hospital patient utilization review programs proposed pursuant to

Chapter ____ (HB 1071/SB 490) of the Laws of 1985. The Joint

Committee established by this Section may also consider and
review any issues relating to the Health Resources Planning
Commission, the Health Services Cost Review Commission, the