Ch. 605                                    1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

SECTION 3. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the provisions of Article
48A, §§ 490BB and 490CC of the Code and § 19-710.2 of the Health - General Article
are applicable to self-funded plans and federally qualified health maintenance organizations
to the extent permitted under federal law.

SECTION 4. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED. That, except as provided in
Section 5 of this Act, the:

(a)     The provisions of Article 48A, § 490CC of the Code and § 19-710.2 of the
Health - General Article shall apply to contracts issued or renewed on or after October
1, 1995 January 1, 1996; and

(b)     The provisions of Article 48A, § 490CC of the Code shall apply to contracts issued
or renewed on or after July 1, 1996.

SECTION 5. 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before January
March 1, 1996, the Health Care Access and Cost Commission shall implement as an
additional benefit the provisions of § 19-710.2 of the Health - General Article for
employers that have at least two, but no more than 50 eligible employees.

SECTION 6. 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 Sections 3 and
4 of this Act shall take effect June 1, 1995.

SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1996.

SECTION 10. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if any provision of this Act or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason in a court
of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or any other
application of this Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application,
and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared severable.

SECTION 3. 7. 11. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED,. That, except for Section
2 Sections 2, 3, and 4 of this Act, this Act shall take effect October July October 1, 1995.

Approved May 25, 1995.

Approved May 25, 1995.

CHAPTER 605
(Senate Bill 449)

AN ACT concerning

Patient Access Act

FOR the purpose of requiring certain carriers that use certain panels of providers to
provide certain services to enrollees to establish certain criteria and procedures for
membership on those panels and maintain the criteria and procedures at a certain

- 3450 -