Ch. 453                                    2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

COURSE THAT ADDRESSES HEALTH CARE SERVICES DISPARITIES OF MINORITY
POPULATIONS AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR.

(B) THE CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION COURSE REQUIRED UNDER
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, SHALL COMPLY WITH THE CRITERIA AND
GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY THE MEDICAL AND CHIRURGICAL FACULTY OF
MARYLAND AND MONUMENTAL CITY MEDICAL SOCIETY'S STEERING COMMITTEES
PROGRAM ADDRESSING HEALTH CARE SERVICES DISPARITIES OF MINORITY
POPULATIONS.

SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a)     The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the
Mental Hygiene Administration, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, the
AIDS Administration, and the Advisory Council on Heart Disease and Stroke, shall
submit a report to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee on or
before September 30, 2004, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government
Article, on recommendations and implementation plans for closing gaps in health
services delivery and financial access to health services based on race, poverty,
gender, and ethnicity.

(b)     The report shall include:

(1)     cultural competency and, sensitivity, and health literacy guidelines
based on race, poverty, gender, and ethnicity for health care providers participating in
State-funded programs;

(2)     standards for screening, diagnosing, and referring to a mental health
care provider, a patient with a mental health condition to determine if the patient has
a co-occurring chronic illness;

(3)     guidelines for the screening, diagnosing, and referring to the
appropriate health care provider of patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS;

(4)     identification of existing cardiovascular disease prevention and
treatment programs that have demonstrated success in the education, prevention,
and treatment of cardiovascular disease with quantifiable standards; and

(5)     identification of existing cancer prevention and treatment programs
that have demonstrated success in the education, prevention, and treatment of cancer
with quantifiable standards; and

(6)     identification of existing diabetes programs that have demonstrated
success in the education, prevention, and treatment of diabetes with quantifiable
standards.

SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 2003. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective for a period of 5
years and, at the end of September 30, 2008, with no further action required by the
General Assembly, Section 2 of this Act shall be abrogated and of no further force and
effect.

- 3080 -