Maryland Health - General Section 14-302

      (a)      The purposes of this subtitle are:

            (1)      To provide for the establishment of day care centers for adults and services that will give medically handicapped adults the chance to stay with their families or in their communities instead of being placed in a nursing home or State institution; and

            (2)      To allow this State to deal more effectively and economically with the needs of its medically handicapped adults.

      (b)      The General Assembly intends that day care centers for adults and services be used:

            (1)      To avoid, as much as possible, unnecessary commitment of a medically handicapped adult to a nursing home, State institution, or other long term care facility;

            (2)      To provide opportunities for medically handicapped adults to be discharged from nursing homes, State institutions, or general or special hospitals; and

            (3)      To serve only those medically handicapped adults who otherwise would be eligible under State or federal law for care in a nursing home, State institution, or other long term care facility.