2358

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 640

[(3) The Director shall also deliver to each party
within 20 days after the time for filing a response, a copy of §
3-2A-06 of this subtitle relating to judicial review.]

(3) THE BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENTS SENT TO THE PARTIES
UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL HAVE BEEN UPDATED WITHIN THE YEAR.

[(c)] (D)(1) Within 15 days after delivery of the list, a
party may object in writing stating the reasons therefor to the
inclusion of any arbitrator on the list. If the Director finds a
reasonable basis for the objection, he shall replace the name of
the arbitrator with the name of another arbitrator. Within 30
days after delivery of the initial list or, if an arbitrator is
replaced, within 30 days after delivery of the replacement list,
each party shall strike from the list in each category any name
or names that are unacceptable and return a copy of the list with
his strikes to the Director. UPON MOTION OF EITHER PARTY, THE
PANEL CHAIRMAN, FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
DIRECTOR, SHALL REQUIRE THAT SUBSEQUENT STRIKES BE MADE IN A
LESSER PERIOD OF TIME. A party may not strike more than two names
in any category.

(2) If:

(i) The claim is against more than one health
care provider, whether directly by a claimant or as a result of a
third-party claim, the health care providers claimed against
shall be treated as a single party and shall exercise their
strikes jointly;

(ii) There is more than one claimant, the
claimants shall be treated as a single party and shall exercise
their strikes jointly;

(iii) Within the time period specified in
paragraph (1) of this subsection, multiple claimants or multiple
health care providers fail to agree on their strikes in any
category, they shall notify the Director of their disagreement,
and he shall make the strikes on their behalf with respect to
that category;

(iv) Any party fails to return a copy of the
list with his strikes within the time period specified in
paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Director shall make the
strikes for that party.

[(d)] (E) (1) The Director shall compare the lists returned
to him and the lists from which he has stricken names pursuant to
subsection [(c)] (D) OF THIS SECTION, and shall select the first
mutually agreeable person in each category as the arbitrators.

(2) THE DIRECTOR SHALL ESTABLISH BY REGULATION
PROCEDURES FOR SELECTION OF ALTERNATES TO SERVE IN PLACE OF
ARBITRATORS UNABLE TO SERVE AFTER APPOINTMENT. PROCEDURES FOR THE
SELECTION OF ALTERNATE ARBITRATORS SHALL PROVIDE THAT ALTERNATE