H.B. 615                                                 VETOES

qualified HMO. This in turn could create a substantial unevenness in the playing field
among HMOs, with some subject to the law and some not. There is nothing to suggest
that the Conference Committee was aware of, or considered, this possibility.

In conclusion, I strongly urge the parties, in consultation with legislative leaders, the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Budget and Fiscal
Planning, to come together to reach a negotiated solution to this issue. As managed care
becomes more and more prevalent, the growing pains associated with this still emerging
system of health care delivery are best resolved in a process that allows for the full airing
of all issues, and for the balancing, to the extent possible, of all interests.

For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 615.

Sincerely,

Parris N. Glendening

Governor

House Bill No. 615

AN ACT concerning

Health Maintenance Organizations - Reimbursements - Services in Hospital Emergency

Facilities

FOR the purpose of authorizing a health maintenance organization to collect payments
from a certain individual for certain services provided in a hospital emergency
facility if the services are determined not to be emergency services; prohibiting a
health maintenance organization from collecting payments from a certain individual
for certain services provided in a hospital emergency facility under certain
circumstances; requiring a health maintenance organization to reimburse health
care providers for certain services provided to a certain individual in a hospital
emergency facility under certain circumstances; requiring certain health care
providers to attempt to notify an enrollee's or subscriber's health maintenance
organization under certain circumstances; providing a certain exception; and
generally relating to payments by certain persons for certain health care services
provided in hospital emergency facilities...

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 19-710(q) and 19-712.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1990 Replacement Volume and 1994 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Federal statutory law (Section 1867 of the Social Security Act, 42 USC
§ 1395(dd)) and federal regulations (42 CFR Parts 488, 489, and 1003) require hospital
emergency facilities to perform examinations of patients prior to inquiring about methods
of payment or insurance coverage; now, therefore,

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