WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 614

DEMONSTRATED EVALUATED AS TO THEIR HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES AND COST
EFFECTIVENESS.

(II) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ANNUALLY INFORM THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES AND COST
EFFECTIVENESS OF MANAGED CARE PILOT PROGRAMS.

[(b)] (C) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words
have the meanings indicated.

(ii) "Certified nurse practitioner" means a
registered nurse who is licensed in this State, has completed a
nurse practitioner program approved by the State Board of
Nursing, 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] UNLESS SPECIFICALLY TERMINATED BY THE

PROGRAM OR BY THE PROVIDER EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, A
contract that the Secretary makes under this subsection shall
INITIALLY be for a 1-year period and may be renewed FOR AN

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