Ch. 5                                       2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(D)     IF A HOSPITAL OR RELATED INSTITUTION FAILS TO COMPLY WITH
SUBSECTION (A) OR (C) OF THIS SECTION, THE SECRETARY MAY IMPOSE A FINE OF
$500 PER DAY FOR EACH DAY THE VIOLATION CONTINUES.

(E)     THE SECRETARY SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS
SECTION.

19-727.

[(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a] A health
maintenance organization is not exempted from any State, county, or local taxes
solely because of this subtitle.

[(b) (1) Each health maintenance organization that is authorized to operate
under this subtitle is exempted from paying the premium tax imposed under Title 6,
Subtitle 1 of the Insurance Article.

(2)     Premiums received by an insurer under policies that provide health
maintenance organization benefits are not subject to the premium tax imposed under
Title 6, Subtitle 1 of the Insurance Article to the extent:

(i) Of the amounts actually paid by the insurer to a nonprofit
health maintenance organization that operates only as a health maintenance
organization; or

(ii) The premiums have been paid by that nonprofit health
maintenance organization.]

Article - Health Occupations

1-401.

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2)     (i) "Alternative health care system" means a system of health care
delivery other than a hospital or related institution.

(ii) "Alternative health care system" includes:

1. A health maintenance organization;

2. A preferred provider organization;

3. An independent practice association;

4. A community health center that is a nonprofit,
freestanding ambulatory health care provider governed by a voluntary board of
directors and that provides primary health care services to the medically indigent;

5. A freestanding ambulatory care facility as that term is
defined in § 19-3B-01 of the Health—General Article; or

6. Any other health care delivery system that utilizes a
medical review committee.

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