Ch. 332                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND

Approved May 17, 1988.

CHAPTER 332

(Senate Bill 640)

AN ACT concerning

Medical Review Committees - Alternative Health Care System -
Community Health Centers

FOR the purpose of altering the definition of alternative health
care system in the provisions of law concerning medical
review committees to include community health centers; and
clarifying that certain records are confidential.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Health Occupations

Section 14-601

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1986 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Medical Review Committees seek to improve the
quality of health care provided by providers of health care by
(1) evaluating the need for, and level of performance of, health
care provided by providers; (2) evaluating the qualifications,
competence, and performance of providers; and (3) evaluating and
acting on matters that relate to the discipline of providers; and

WHEREAS, Under the current law the proceedings, records, and
files of a medical review committee are not discoverable and are
not admissible in evidence in any civil action arising out of
matters that are being reviewed and evaluated by a medical review
committee; and

WHEREAS, Under the current law, a person who acts in good
faith and within the scope of jurisdiction of a medical review
committee is not civilly liable for any action as a member of a
medical review committee or for giving information to,
participating in, or contributing to the function of a medical
review committee; and

WHEREAS, Community health centers provide essential primary
and environmental health services to the medically underserved
population of this State; and

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