ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

Ch. 261

(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(1)      DEVELOP A METHODOLOGY TO TRACK THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF
CALLS RECEIVED BY THE MARYLAND PHARMACY ACCESS HOTLINE; AND

(2)      PROVIDE A QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE PHARMACY AND
THERAPEUTICS COMMITTEE THAT SUMMARIZES THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF CALLS
RECEIVED BY THE MARYLAND PHARMACY ACCESS HOTLINE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 2003.

Approved May 13, 2003.

CHAPTER 261
(Senate Bill 687)

AN ACT concerning

Health Maintenance Organizations - Patient Access to Choice of Provider

FOR the purpose of altering certain standards of care for health maintenance
organizations by requiring those standards to include a requirement that a
health maintenance organization shall assure that each member shall have the
opportunity to select a certified nurse practitioner from those available to the
health maintenance organization; authorizing the members of a health
maintenance organization to select a certified nurse practitioner as the
member's primary care provider under certain circumstances; providing that a
member who selects a certified nurse practitioner as a primary care provider
shall be provided certain information about the nurse practitioner's
collaborating physician; providing for the construction of this Act; and generally
relating to health maintenance organizations and certified nurse practitioners.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Health - General
Section 19-705.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2000 Replacement Volume and 2002 Supplement)

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

Article - Health - General

19-705.1.

(a) The Secretary shall adopt regulations that set out reasonable standards of
quality of care that a health maintenance organization shall provide to its members.

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