WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                                Ch. 9

(2) THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT THESE REGULATIONS TO SHALL
ENSURE THAT CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED PATIENT INFORMATION IS KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL.

(2) (3) RECORDS OR INFORMATION PROTECTED BY THE PROVISIONS
OP THE PHYSICIAN PATIENT PRIVILEGE THE PRIVILEGE BETWEEN A HEALTH CARE
PRACTITIONER AND A PATIENT, OR OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE HELD
CONFIDENTIAL, SHALL BE FILED IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DISCLOSE THE
IDENTITY OF THE PERSON PROTECTED.

(D) (1) TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, WHEN COLLECTING THE DATA
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL:

(1) UTILIZE ANY STANDARDIZED CLAIM FORM OR ELECTRONIC
TRANSFER SYSTEM BEING USED BY PHYSICIANS, PHARMACISTS; HEALTH CARE
PRACTITIONERS, OFFICE FACILITIES, AND PAYORS; AND.

(2) TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE REIMBURSEMENT METHODS USED BY
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP
APPROPRIATE METHODS FOR COLLECTING THE DATA REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION
(B) OF THIS SECTION ON SUBSCRIBERS OR ENROLLEES OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATIONS.

(E) UNTIL THE PROVISIONS OF § 19-1508 OF THIS SUBTITLE ARE FULLY
IMPLEMENTED BUT NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 1995, WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE
COMMISSION MAY LIMIT THE DATA COLLECTION UNDER THIS SECTION TO A
REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE FOR A HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDED BY A HEALTH CARE
PRACTITIONER OR OFFICE FACILITY.

(E) (F) BY OCTOBER 1, 1995 AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE
COMMISSION SHALL PUBLISH AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THOSE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES SELECTED BY THE COMMISSION THAT:

(1) DESCRIBES THE VARIATION IN FEES CHARGED BY PHYSICIANS AND
OFFICE FACILITIES ON A STATEWIDE BASIS AND IN EACH HEALTH SERVICE AREA
FOR THOSE HEALTH CARE SERVICES; AND

(2) DESCRIBES THE GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE UTILIZATION OF
THOSE HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

(F) (G) IN DEVELOPING THE MEDICAL CARE DATA BASE, THE COMMISSION
SHALL CONSULT WITH:

(1) REPRESENTATIVES OF PHYSICIANS, PHARMACISTS, THIRD PARTY
HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, PAYORS, AND HOSPITALS; AND

(2) REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HEALTH SERVICES COST REVIEW
COMMISSION AND THE HEALTH RESOURCES PLANNING COMMISSION TO ENSURE THAT
THE MEDICAL CARE DATA BASE IS COMPATIBLE WITH, MAY BE MERGED WITH, AND

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