Maryland Health - General Section 19-308.8

      (a)      A hospital may discharge a patient:

            (1)      Entirely;

            (2)      To another level of care, treatment, or services;

            (3)      To different health professionals; or

            (4)      To settings for continued services.

      (b)      A hospital's process for transfer or discharge shall be based on a patient's assessed needs.

      (c)      To facilitate discharge or transfer, the hospital shall:

            (1)      Assess a patient's needs;

            (2)      Plan for discharge or transfer;

            (3)      Facilitate the discharge or transfer process;

            (4)      Give the patient or person responsible for providing continuing care to the patient written discharge instructions in a form the patient can understand; and

            (5)      Help to ensure that continuity of care, treatment, and services is maintained.

      (d)      If a hospital fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the Secretary may impose a civil money penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each failure to comply.

      (e)      A hospital may appeal a civil money penalty imposed under subsection (c) of this section in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.