Ch. 286                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND

Examiners of Nurses, and has passed an examination approved by
that Board.

(iii) "Nurse anesthetist" means a registered
nurse who is:

1.  Certified under the Health Occupations
Article to practice nurse anesthesia; and

2.  Certified by the Council on
Certification or the Council on Recertification of "Nurse
Anesthetists.

(iv) "Nurse midwife" means a registered nurse
who is licensed in this State and has been certified by the
American College of Nurse-Midwives as a nurse midwife.

(v) "Optometrist" has the meaning stated in §
10-101 of the Health Occupations Article.

(2)  The Secretary may contract for the provision of
care under the Program to eligible Program recipients.

(3)  The Secretary may contract with insurance
companies or nonprofit health service plans or with individuals,
associations, partnerships, incorporated or unincorporated groups
of physicians, chiropractors, dentists, podiatrists,
optometrists, pharmacists, hospitals, nursing homes, nurses,
including nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and certified nurse
practitioners, opticians, and other health practitioners who are
licensed or certified in this State and perform services on the
prescription or referral of a physician.

(4)  For the purposes of this section, the nurse
midwife need not be under the supervision of a physician.

(5)  A contract that the Secretary makes under this
subsection shall be for a 1-year period and may be renewed.

15-105.

(a) The Department shall adopt rules and regulations for
the reimbursement of providers under the Program. However,
except for an invoice that must be submitted to a Medicare
intermediary or Medicare carrier for an individual who may have
both Medicare and Medicaid coverage, payment may not be made for
an invoice that is received more than 1 year after the dates of
the services given. Notwithstanding the fact that the invoice
may be returned to the provider for resubmission for other
reasons, the time requirement for receipt of an invoice is
complied with if the Department initially receives the invoice
within 1 year of date of service given and if the invoice

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