(b) For purposes of this section, a dental review committee is:
(1) A regulatory board or agency established by State or federal law to
license, certify, or discipline any provider of dental care;
(2) A committee of the Maryland State Dental Association[,] OR ANY OF
ITS COMPONENT SOCIETIES, INCLUDING A DENTIST REHABILITATION COMMITTEE
AS DEFINED IN § 4-501.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE;
(3) A COMMITTEE OF the Maryland Dental Society or any of [their] ITS
component societies[, or a];
(4) A COMMITTEE OF THE MARYLAND DENTAL HYGIENISTS'
ASSOCIATION, OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENT SOCIETIES, INCLUDING A DENTAL
HYGIENIST REHABILITATION COMMITTEE AS DEFINED IN § 4-508 OF THIS SUBTITLE;
(4) (5) A committee of any [other] professional society or association
composed of providers of dental care;
[(3)] (5) (6) A committee of the medical staff or other committee of a
hospital or related institution, if the governing board of the hospital or related
institution forms and approves the committee or approves the written bylaws under
which the committee operates;
[(4)](6) (7) Any person, including a professional standard review
organization, who contracts with an agency of this State or of the federal government
to perform any of the functions listed in subsection (c) of this section; or
[(5)] (7) (8) Any person who contracts with a provider of dental care to
perform any of those functions listed in subsection (c) of this section that are limited
to the review of services provided by the provider of dental care.
(c) For purposes of this section, a dental review committee:
(1) Evaluates and seeks to improve the quality of dental care provided by
providers of dental care;
(2) Evaluates the need for and the level of performance of dental care
provided by providers of dental care;
(3) Evaluates the qualifications, competence, and performance of
providers of dental care;
(4) Evaluates and acts on matters that relate to the discipline of any
provider of dental care; or
(5) Evaluates and provides assistance to any provider of dental care in
need of treatment and rehabilitation for alcoholism, drug abuse, chemical
dependency, or other physical, emotional, or mental condition.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the proceedings, records, and
files of a dental review committee are not discoverable and are not admissible in
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