PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 529

PRACTICE PRIVILEGES, ENTERING INTO CONTRACT, OR SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
WITH A HOSPITAL, RELATED INSTITUTION, OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATION.

(II) "CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATION" INCLUDES;

1. A HOSPITAL;

2. A RELATED INSTITUTION; AND

3. A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION.

(4) (3) "PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION" MEANS A PROCEDURE
USED BY A CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATION HOSPITAL, RELATED INSTITUTION, OR
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION TO ENSURE THE TRUTH AND ACCURACY
OF DOCUMENTS AND OBJECTIVE VERIFIABLE INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO THE
ORGANIZATION HOSPITAL RELATED INSTITUTION, OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATION BY A PHYSICIAN WHO IS APPLYING FOR PRACTICE PRIVILEGES,
ENTERING INTO CONTRACT, OR SEEKING EMPLOYMENT WITH A HOSPITAL,
RELATED INSTITUTION, OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION.

(B)     ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1997, THE SECRETARY SHALL ADOPT
REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING FOR A CREDENTIALING PRIMARY SOURCE
VERIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL PHYSICIANS
LICENSED UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE

(C)     IN CONSULTATION WITH APPROPRIATE ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS
AFTER THE SECRETARY REVIEWS THE STANDARDS OF APPROPRIATE
CREDENTIALING ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSULTS WITH THE
FACULTY, THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, AND THE MARYLAND
ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, THE REGULATIONS
ADOPTED BY THE SECRETARY UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION SHALL:

(1)     PROVIDE FOR A PROCEDURE FOR THE COLLECTION AND RELEASE
OF CREDENTIALING PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION INFORMATION;

(2)     INCLUDE STANDARDS BY WHICH ANY ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING
THE FACULTY, MAY QUALIFY TO PERFORM PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION; AND

(3)     PROVIDE FOR THE MONITORING BY THE SECRETARY OF ANY
ORGANIZATION THAT QUALIFIES TO ADMINISTER PRIMARY SOURCE
VERIFICATION.

(D)    THE SECRETARY MAY AUTHORIZE CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATIONS
HOSPITALS, RELATED INSTITUTIONS, OR HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS
TO RELY ON CREDENTIALING PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY AN ORGANIZATION QUALIFIED TO PERFORM PRIMARY SOURCE
VERIFICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARDS REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY
THE SECRETARY BY REGULATION UNDER THIS SECTION INSTEAD OF REQUIRING A
CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATION HOSPITAL, RELATED INSTITUTION, OR HEALTH
MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION TO USE ITS OWN PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION

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