(I) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2001; DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A
SYSTEM TO COMPARATIVELY EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF CARE AND PERFORMANCE
OF NURSING FACILITIES ON AN OBJECTIVE BASIS; AND

(II) ANNUALLY PUBLISH THE SUMMARY FINDINGS OF THE

EVALUATION.

(2) (I) THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPARATIVE EVALUATION SYSTEM
ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SECTION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE
PROVIDED BY NURSING FACILITIES BY ESTABLISHING A COMMON SET OF
PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND DISSEMINATING THE FINDINGS OF THE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION TO NURSING FACILITIES, CONSUMERS, AND OTHER
INTERESTED PARTIES.

(II) IN DEVELOPING THE COMPARATIVE EVALUATION SYSTEM, THE
COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE POPULATION SERVED.

(3) THE SYSTEM, AS APPROPRIATE, SHALL SOLICIT PERFORMANCE
INFORMATION FROM CONSUMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

(4) THE COMMISSION MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH THE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION SYSTEM PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED. That, on or before January 1,
2001, the Commission shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State
Government Article, to the General Assembly on the nursing facility comparative
evaluation system required by Section 2 of this Act.

SECTION 2. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That General Fund savings
that result from Section 1 of this Act shall be used to increase the payments for
services to Program recipients under the nursing services cost center of the Medicaid
nursing home reimbursement formula, in accordance with the study conducted
pursuant to Chapter 724 of the Acts of 1998.

SECTION 3. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a) There is a Task Force on Quality of Care in Nursing Facilities.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) two members of the Senate Finance Committee, appointed by the
President of the Senate;

(2) two members of the Senate Economic and Environmental Affairs
Committee, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) four members of the House Environmental Matters Committee,
appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(4) the Secretary of the Department of Aging;

(5) the Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, or
the Secretary's designee; and