PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 548

MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A PRACTICE PROFILE
WITHOUT INFORMING THE PROVIDER OF THE FINDINGS OF THE PRACTICE PROFILE
PRIOR TO THE TERMINATION.

(2) IF A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION USES A PRACTICE
PROFILE AS A FACTOR FN ITS CONTRACT REVIEW TO EVALUATE A PROVIDER'S
STATUS ON A PROVIDER PANEL THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION
SHALL DISCLOSE AT THE COMMENCEMENT AND RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT AND,
NOT MORE OFTEN THAN ANNUALLY, UPON THE REQUEST OF THE PROVIDER:

(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE CRITERIA USED TO COMPILE THE
PRACTICE PROFILE CONCERNING THE PROVIDER; AND

(II) THE MANNER IN WHICH THE PRACTICE PROFILE IS USED TO
EVALUATE THE PROVIDER.

(3) THE INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT
BE USED TO CREATE A CAUSE OF ACTION.

(4) A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION MAY NOT TERMINATE A
PROVIDER CONTRACT OR PROVIDER'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE HEALTH
MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION ON THE BASIS OF A PRACTICE PROFILE WITHOUT
FIRST INFORMING THE PROVIDER OF THE FINDINGS OF THE PRACTICE PROFILE
AND THE PROVIDER SPECIFIC DATA UNDERLYING THOSE FINDINGS.

(S) A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION MAY NOT BY CONTRACT, OR
IN ANY OTHER MANNER, REQUIRE A PROVIDER TO INDEMNIFY THE HEALTH
MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION OR HOLD THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATION HARMLESS FROM A COVERAGE DECISION OR NEGLIGENT ACT OF
THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION.

Chapter 577 of the Acts of 1995

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Insurance
Commissioner, when developing [the uniform provider voucher form] the uniform
laboratory referral form[,] and the uniform consultation referral form under Article
48A, § 490BB of the Code, shall consult with the Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, the Health Care Access and Cost Commission, the Office on Aging, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Maryland, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area,
the Health Insurance Association of America, the League of Life and Health Insurers,
the Maryland Hospital Association, the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, the
Medical Group Management Association, a representative of the medical laboratory
industry in the State, the Maryland Association of Health Maintenance Organizations,
and a nonphysician health care provider association. The forms developed under this
section shall be capable of electronic transfer.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Insurance
Commissioner, when developing the forms in accordance with the requirements of
Section 2 of this Act, shall assess any existing uniformity of forms currently being used
within the health care delivery and finance industries, and shall examine any uniformity of
forms that may be required in other states. IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF

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