Maryland Health - General Section 19-2111

CAUTION: READ FULL TEXT OF SECTION FOR SPECIAL NOTE

// SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS ADDED BY CHAPTER 280 OF 2005 AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2010 //

      (a)      The Commission, in collaboration with community health resources and local health departments, shall develop a specialty care network for individuals:

            (1)      With family income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level; and

            (2)      Who are referred through a community health resource.

      (b)      The specialty care network shall:

            (1)      Consist of health care practitioners who agree to provide care to individuals referred through a community health resource for a discounted fee established by the Commission; and

            (2)      Include health care practitioners who historically have served the uninsured.

      (c)      Individuals receiving health care through the specialty care network shall pay for specialty care according to a sliding fee scale developed by the Commission.

      (d)      In addition to patient fees, office-based specialty care visits, diagnostic testing, and laboratory tests shall be subsidized by funds provided from:

            (1)      General funds; and

            (2)      Money collected from a nonprofit health maintenance organization in accordance with § 6-121(b)(3) of the Insurance Article.

      (e)      Subject to available funding, the Commission shall provide subsidies to community health resources for office-based specialty care visits, diagnostic testing, and laboratory tests.