2016 Maryland Code
Health - General
Title 19 - Health Care Facilities
Subtitle 20 - Health Care Staff Agencies.
§ 19-2002. Office of Health Care Quality

(a) "Office" defined. -- In this section, "Office" means the Office of Health Care Quality in the Department.

(b) Compliance. -- The Office may inspect a health care staff agency to verify compliance with this subtitle.

(c) Health care practitioner credentials. -- When the Office conducts an inspection, the Office shall verify that the health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency are licensed or certified by the appropriate health occupation board.

(d) Health care staff agency procedures. -- When the Office conducts an inspection, the Office shall verify that the health care staff agency has developed, documented, and implemented procedures for:

(1) Selecting and verifying the credentials of health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency;

(2) Validating experience of health care practitioners prior to referral by the health care staff agency;

(3) Tracking and acting on serious or life-threatening complaints received by a client facility or the client facility's agent;

(4) Reporting of an action or condition under § 19-2001(h) of this subtitle;

(5) Verifying that health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency are of satisfactory health status and have received the necessary testing and immunization as required or requested by the client facility;

(6) Verifying I-9 status;

(7) Verifying, prior to initial referral of health care practitioners to a client facility by the health care staff agency, drug screening of health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency if the client facility requires drug screening for facility employees;

(8) Verifying, when there is probable cause to perform a drug test or when a client facility requests a drug test, drug testing of health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency;

(9) Verifying, prior to initial referral of health care practitioners to a client facility by the health care staff agency, criminal background checks of health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency if the client facility requires criminal background checks for facility employees; and

(10) Verifying the references of health care practitioners referred by the health care staff agency.

(e) Attestation that agency complies with federal laws. -- A health care staff agency shall attest that the health care staff agency is in compliance with the:

(1) Civil Rights Act of 1964;

(2) Rehabilitation Act of 1973;

(3) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and

(4) Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, if applicable.

(f) Inspections. -- The Office may inspect a health care staff agency upon receiving a complaint, and may give notice of the inspection to the health care staff agency.