Ch. 161

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 161
(Senate Bill 332)

AN ACT concerning

Health Maintenance Organizations - Referrals to Continuing Care Facilities

FOR the purpose of requiring a primary care physician under certain circumstances to
refer a subscriber or an enrollee of a skilled nursing unit at a health maintenance
organization to a continuing care facility for the provision of certain health care
services whenever the subscriber or enrollee is a resident of the continuing care
facility.

BY adding to

Article - Health - General

Section 19-712.6

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1996 Replacement Volume and 1996 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Over 10,000 Marylanders, over the age of 65, reside in continuing care
retirement communities; and

WHEREAS, Many older citizens choose to live in continuing care retirement
communities for the rest of their lives; and

WHEREAS, Continuing care retirement communities provide the entire continuum
of health care services; and

WHEREAS, Continuing care retirement communities are wellness managed care
organizations that have been in existence for over 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Health care services delivered in one's home are more cost effective
for the individual and the entire health care system and are better for the physical,
mental, and overall well-being of an individual; and

WHEREAS, Geographic separation for married individuals who reside together in
a continuing care retirement community would occur if they could not return to their
continuing care retirement community for rehabilitation and recuperation; now;
therefore,

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

Article - Health - General

19-712.6.

(A) WHENEVER A SUBSCRIBER OR AN ENROLLEE OF A HEALTH
MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION IS A RESIDENT OF A CONTINUING CARE FACILITY

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