Ch. 696

1997 LAWS. OF MARYLAND

(9)     A committee appointed by or established in an accredited health
occupations school; or

(10)   An organization described under § 14-501.1 of this subtitle that
contracts with a hospital, related institution, or health maintenance organization to:

(i) Assist in performing the functions listed in subsection (c) of this
section; or

(ii) Assist a health maintenance organization in meeting the
requirements of Title 19, Subtitle 7 of the Health - General Article, the National
Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), or any other applicable credentialing law or
regulation.

(c)     For purposes of this section, a medical review committee:

(1)     Evaluates and seeks to improve the quality of health care provided by
providers of health care;

(2)     Evaluates the need for and the level of performance of health care
provided by providers of health care;

(3)     Evaluates the qualifications, competence, and performance of providers
of health care; or

(4)     Evaluates and acts on matters that relate to the discipline of any
provider of health care.

(d)     (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the proceedings, records,
and files of a medical review committee are not discoverable and are not admissible in
evidence in any civil action [arising out of matters that are being reviewed and evaluated
by the medical review committee].

(2) The proceedings, records, and files of a medical review committee are
confidential and are not discoverable and are not admissible in evidence in any civil
action arising out of matters that are being reviewed and evaluated by the medical review
committee if requested by the following:

(i) The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to ensure
compliance with the provisions of § 19-319 of the Health - General Article;

(ii) A health maintenance organization to ensure compliance with the
provisions of Title 19, Subtitle 7 of the Health - General Article and applicable
regulations; or

(iii) A health maintenance organization to ensure compliance with the
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) credentialing requirements.

(e)     Subsection (d)(1) of this section does not apply to:

(1) A civil action brought by a party to the proceedings of the medical
review committee who claims to be aggrieved by the decision of the medical review
committee; or

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