Ch. 443                                    2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Annotated Code of Maryland

(2000 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - State Government Health - General

Section 9-3A-01 through 9-3A-08 20-1001 through 20-1007, inclusive, to be
under the new subtitle "Subtitle 3A. 10. Office of Minority Health and
Health Disparities"

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1999 2000 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The cost of racial and ethnic disparities in health care has a
substantial negative economic impact on the State; and

WHEREAS, There is a social and economic benefit to ensuring that minorities
have access to preventive health care; now, therefore,

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

Article - Health - General

20-904.

(d) The plan shall include recommendations to coordinate existing programs
related to health care disparities by:

(1)     Identifying available funding;

(2)     Identifying any gaps in service delivery based on gender, race,
ethnicity, and poverty;

(3)     Reducing the duplication of available health care services;

(4)     Reducing the fragmentation of health care services; [and]

(5)     Identifying outcome measures to reduce health care disparities; AND

(6)     ASSESSING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINORITY HEALTH
ADVISORY COMMISSION TO BE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES THAT WOULD ASSIST THE OFFICE OF
MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES.

- 2070 -