Maryland Health - General Section 20-904

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS ADDED BY CHAPTER 453 OF 2003 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 //

      (a)      The Department, in consultation with the Maryland Health Care Foundation, shall develop and implement a plan to reduce health care disparities based on gender, race, ethnicity, and poverty.

      (b)      The following entities shall be involved in the development and implementation of the plan:

            (1)      The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland;

            (2)      The Monumental City Medical Society;

            (3)      The Nurse Practitioners Association of Maryland;

            (4)      The Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants;

            (5)      The Mental Hygiene Administration;

            (6)      The Center for Poverty Solutions;

            (7)      The Maryland Hospital Association;

            (8)      An academic medical center in the State;

            (9)      A medical school in the State;

            (10)      The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health;

            (11)      The Morgan State University Graduate Public Health Program;

            (12)      A nursing program in the State that offers a bachelor's degree in nursing;

            (13)      A nursing program in the State that offers an associate's degree in nursing;

            (14)      The National Black Nurses Association;

            (15)      The Baltimore City Medical Society;

            (16)      The Maryland Nurses Association;

            (17)      The University of Maryland School of Social Work;

            (18)      The Baltimore Prevention Coalition;

            (19)      The Maryland Association of County Health Officers;

            (20)      The Maryland Higher Education Commission;

            (21)      The Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers; and

            (22)      Any other organization with an interest or expertise in reducing health care disparities.

      (c)      The following entities shall assist the Department in providing staff to implement the plan:

            (1)      The Maryland Health Care Foundation;

            (2)      The Morgan State University Graduate Public Health Program;

            (3)      The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; and

            (4)      The Monumental City Medical Society.

      (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;

            (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.

      (e)      By September 30, 2004, the Department and the entities listed in subsection (b) of this section shall:

            (1)      (i)      Examine current continuing education programs offered by hospitals and physician organizations in the State that are focused on health care disparities; and

                  (ii)      Examine current continuing education requirements of health occupation boards;

            (2)      Determine the content of a model course or seminar that addresses health care services disparities of minority populations;

            (3)      Assess the feasibility of requiring certain health care providers to take the course or seminar; and

            (4)      Identify the oversight that would be required by a health occupation board in order to determine compliance with continuing education requirements concerning health care disparities.

      (f)      The Department shall submit a report to the Governor and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee by September 30 of each year, on the development and implementation of the plan to reduce health care disparities.