2022 Maryland Statutes
Health - General
Title 17 - Laboratories
Subtitle 2 - Medical Laboratories
Section 17-215 - Advertising or Soliciting for Medical Laboratories

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not directly or indirectly advertise for or solicit business in this State for any medical laboratory, regardless of location, from anyone except a physician, hospital, medical laboratory, clinic, clinical installation, or other medical care facility.

    (b)    (1)    (i)    This subsection applies only to:

                1.    A diagnostic laboratory test or procedure for the purpose of screening, diagnosing, managing, or treating a physical or mental condition or disease; and

                2.    Ancestry testing using Y–chromosome mitochondrial DNA or autosomal DNA testing limited to the detection and reporting of genetic evidence of parental lineage and genetic ethnicity.

            (ii)    This subsection does not apply to germline genetic or genomic testing done in connection with the analysis, diagnosis, or prediction of human diseases.

        (2)    Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a person may directly or indirectly advertise for or solicit business in the State for a diagnostic laboratory test or procedure ordered by a physician and performed by a medical laboratory certified under 42 U.S.C. § 263a.

        (3)    A person that directly or indirectly advertises for or solicits business in the State for a diagnostic laboratory test or procedure under this subsection:

            (i)    Is a covered entity or business associate of a covered entity for purposes of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act;

            (ii)    May not make a claim about the reliability and validity of the test or procedure that is inconsistent with the test or procedure’s performance as measured under 42 U.S.C. § 263a; and

            (iii)    Shall disclose that the diagnostic laboratory test or procedure may or may not be covered by health insurance.

        (4)    The Secretary may take legal action to restrict the marketing of a diagnostic laboratory test or procedure if the Secretary determines that:

            (i)    There is a public health threat; or

            (ii)    The diagnostic laboratory test or procedure is not in compliance with the requirements of this section.