1578                                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                                       Ch. 423

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(3) The children of a recipient of services.

16-102.

(a) It is the policy of this State to obligate each
recipient of services and, to the extent provided in this title,
those legally responsible for the recipient to pay, if
financially able, for the cost of care that is received by the

recipient of services. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY STATUTE, THE
RECIPIENT OF SERVICES AND THE CHARGEABLE PERSON SHALL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE RECIPIENT OF
SERVICES WAS ADMITTED VOLUNTARILY, INVOLUNTARILY, OR BY COURT
ORDER. IF THE RECIPIENT OF SERVICES IS INVOLUNTARILY ADMITTED TO
A PUBLIC FACILITY AND RELEASED AFTER EVALUATION, FOR FAILURE TO
MEET THE STANDARDS FOR INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, THE RECIPIENT OF
SERVICES OR CHARGEABLE PERSON SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
COST OF CARE.

16-203.

(a) (1) The cost of care of a recipient of services shall
be determined in accordance with the charges for services set
under § 16-201 of this subtitle.

(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; AND

(III) THE INSURED OR POLICYHOLDER MAY NOT
WITHHOLD THE PAYMENT AND SHALL ASSIGN TO THE DEPARTMENT ANY
BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER THE POLICY FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THE
DEPARTMENT TO ANY INSURED COVERED BY THE POLICY.

(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) (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: