1670                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                    Ch. 459

requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to pay
for the evaluation; providing that the evaluation shall
include certain factors; specifying the nature of the
evaluation; requiring the Department to prepare and publish
certain information and to provide the information to
certain individuals at a certain time; prohibiting certain
patient detention under certain circumstances; and requiring
the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to adopt rules
and regulations to carry out this Act.

BY adding to

Article - Health - General

Section 15-301

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1982 Volume and 1985 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Health - General
15-301.

(A)  AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AT
THE TIME OF APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO A LICENSED NURSING HOME
OR WOULD BECOME ELIGIBLE WITHIN 6 MONTHS FOLLOWING ADMISSION
SHALL BE PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE FACE-TO-FACE EVALUATION PRIOR
TO ADMISSION, AT NO CHARGE TO THE INDIVIDUAL. THE DEPARTMENT,
UNDER THE MARYLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SHALL PAY FOR THE
EVALUATION. THE EVALUATION SHALL INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF AN
INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH, SOCIAL AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AVAILABLE SERVICES WHICH COULD APPROPRIATELY
SUBSTITUTE FOR NURSING HOME CARE, THE EVALUATION IS ADVISORY ONLY
AND MAY NOT SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR ANY ACTION, INCLUDING DENIAL
OR COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFITS, THAT RESTRICTS THE FREEDOM OF ANY
INDIVIDUAL TO SELECT FROM AMONG ANY OF THE AVAILABLE SERVICES,
INCLUDING NURSING HOME CARE, FOR WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS FOUND TO
BE MEDICALLY ELIGIBLE. PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE EVALUATION
PROCESS AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PREPARE AND
PUBLISH AN INVENTORY OF AVAILABLE SERVICES FOR USE IN THE
EVALUATION AND SHALL PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION FOR ASSISTANCE TO
THE INDIVIDUAL UPON COMPLETION OF THE EVALUATION.

____                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  _____                                       _______________                                      _______________ ____________________                              ___________________                                                                -m                                                           _________________________________________________

(B)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS TO
CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.

(C) THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE A HOSPITAL
OR PHYSICIAN TO DETAIN A PATIENT FOR AN EVALUATION BEYOND THE
APPROPRIATE DATE OF DISCHARGE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall

take effect July 1, 1986.
Approved May 13, 1986.