Ch. 549

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

WHEREAS, Duplicative health care facilities in any location create inefficiency in
health care expenditures; and

WHEREAS, Maryland's certificate of need program is nationally recognized as a
model for planning and distribution of health care facilities; and

WHEREAS, The Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission and the
Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission have successfully controlled
hospital-based health care costs; and

WHEREAS, Changes in public policy and private industry are increasing the
significance of primary and preventive health care in controlling health care costs; now,
therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED. BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article—Health - General

19-101.

(a) In Part I of this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(B) "AMBULATORY PRIMARY CARE FACILITY" MEANS ANY CENTER, SERVICE,
OFFICE, FACILITY, OR OFFICE OF ONE OR MORE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS OR
A GROUP PRACTICE, AS DEFINED IN § 1-301 OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE,
THAT;

(1) IS NOT LICENSED AS A HOSPITAL OR A PART OF A HOSPITAL OR
NURSING HOME;

(2) HAS A SEPARATE STAFF FUNCTIONING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A
CLINIC ADMINISTRATOR OR HEALTH OFFICER AND IS ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE
AMBULATORY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES;

(3)     OPERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PRIMARY HEALTH
CARE SERVICES TO PATIENTS NEEDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT ADDRESS A
PATIENT'S GENERAL HEALTH NEEDS, INCLUDING THE COORDINATION OF CARE
FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE, THE PROMOTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
HEALTH, THE TREATMENT OF ILLNESS, AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE REFERRAL
TO SPECIALISTS FOR MORE INTENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES;

(4)     OPERATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PRIMARY HEALTH
CARE SERVICES THAT INCLUDE DIAGNOSTIC, TREATMENT, CONSULTATIVE,
REFERRAL, AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT ARE GENERALLY
RENDERED BY GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, FAMILY PRACTITIONERS, INTERNISTS;

OBSTETRICIANS, GYNECOLOGISTS, PEDIATRICIANS, AND MID-LEVEL

PRACTITIONERS, SUCH AS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, NURSE CLINICIANS, AND NURSE
PRACTITIONERS;

(5) OPERATES AS AN INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION SITE,
STAFF MODEL SITE, OR GROUP MODEL SITE OF A HEALTH MAINTENANCE

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