Ch. 134 1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1) Due to the rapid changes the health care market is experiencing, the
Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission shall study and make
recommendations on the findings that result from the study on the desirability of a
statewide payment system for health care practitioners;

(2) The study shall include an evaluation of:

(a) The goals of a statewide payment system:

(b) The appropriateness of the payment system mandated in § 19-1509
of the Health - General Article to achieving these goals;

(c) The feasibility and desirability of including reimbursement
methodologies other than fee-for-service in a statewide payment system;

(d) The continuing need for a statewide payment system, in light of the
changes in the health care market; and

(e) Any other factors the Commission regards as important; and

(2) (3) The Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission shall report its
findings and recommendations to the Senate Finance Committee and the House
Environmental Matters Committee on or before August November 1, 1997.

SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(1) The Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission may not
implement the provisions of § 19-1509(b) of the Health - General Article before January
1, 1998; and

(2) If the Maryland Health Care Access and Cost Commission decides to
implement the provisions of § 19-1509(b) of the Health - General Article, the Maryland
Health Care Access and Cost Commission, in accordance with § 10-111 of the State
Government Article, shall submit for emergency adoption proposed regulations that
would carry out the provisions of § 19-1509(b) of the Health - General Article on or
before January 1. 1999.

SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 1 of this Act and Article 48A. § 698A of the Code. Article 48A.
Subtitle 55 of the Code does not apply to the renewal of any health benefit plan that was
issued prior to June 1, 1997 to a self-employed individual by an authorized insurer that
does not have any health benefit plan in force on or after June 1, 1997 that provides
coverage to a small employer (as that term is defined in Section 2 of Chapter 9 of the Acts
of the General Assembly of 1993), and any renewal of such plan is not a renewal of a
health benefit plan providing coverage to a small employer for any purpose under Article
48A, Subtitle 55 of the Code.

SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2 of this Act and § 15-1202 of the Insurance Article. Title 15,
Subtitle 12 of the Insurance Article does not apply to the renewal of any health benefit
plan that was issued prior to October 1, 1997 to a self-employed individual by an
authorized insurer that does not have any health benefit plan in force on or after October

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