MD
Maryland House Bill HB694

Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB694 Compare Versions

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1- LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 683
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 683
5-(House Bill 694)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9+ *hb0694*
810
9-Hospitals – Financial Assistance – Medical Bill Reimbursement
11+HOUSE BILL 694
12+J3 (2lr1776)
13+ENROLLED BILL
14+— Health and Government Operations/Finance —
15+Introduced by Delegate Charkoudian Delegates Charkoudian, Pendergrass,
16+Pena–Melnyk, Bagnall, Belcastro, Bhandari, Carr, Cullison, Hill, Johnson,
17+Kaiser, Kelly, Kerr, Landis, R. Lewis, Rosenberg, Sample –Hughes, and
18+K. Young
1019
11-FOR the purpose of establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the
12-reimbursement of out–of–pocket costs paid by hospital patients who were eligible for
13-free care, including a requirement that the Health Services Cost Review
14-Commission, the Office of the Comptroller, and the Department of Human Services
15-develop a process for identifying and informing patients who qualify for
16-reimbursement and that hospitals reimburse certain patients; authorizing the Office
17-of the Comptroller to share or disclose certain information under certain
18-circumstances requiring the Health Services Cost Review Commission, in
19-coordination with the Department of Human Services, the State designated
20-exchange, the Office of the Comptroller, and the Maryland Hospital Association, to
21-develop a process for identifying and reimbursing certain patients of hospitals;
22-requiring hospitals to implement the process under certain circumstances; and
23-generally relating to hospitals, financial assistance policies, and reimbursement for
24-paid bills.
20+Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
2521
26-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
27- Article – Health – General
28-Section 19–214.1(b)(1)
29- Annotated Code of Maryland
30- (2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
22+_______________________________________________
23+Proofreader.
24+_______________________________________________
25+Proofreader.
3126
32-BY adding to
33- Article – Health – General
34-Section 19–214.4
35- Annotated Code of Maryland
36- (2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
27+Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
3728
38- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
39-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
29+_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
4030
41-Article – Health – General
31+______________________________________________
32+Speaker.
4233
43-19–214.1.
34+CHAPTER ______
4435
45- (b) (1) (I) The Commission shall require each acute care hospital and each
46-chronic care hospital in the State under the jurisdiction of the Commission to develop a
47-financial assistance policy for providing free and reduced–cost care to patients who lack
48-health care coverage or whose health care coverage does not pay the full cost of the hospital
49-bill. Ch. 683 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
36+AN ACT concerning 1
5037
51-– 2 –
38+Hospitals – Financial Assistance – Medical Bill Reimbursement 2
5239
53- (II) IF NECESSARY TO MEET TH E REQUIREMENTS OF TH IS
54-SECTION, THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER MAY SHARE OR DISCLOSE RELEVANT
55-TAX INFORMATION .
40+FOR the purpose of establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the 3
41+reimbursement of out–of–pocket costs paid by hospital patients who were eligible for 4
42+free care, including a requirement that the Health Services Cost Review 5
43+Commission, the Office of the Comptroller, and the Department of Human Services 6
44+develop a process for identifying and informing patients who qualify for 7
45+reimbursement and that hospitals reimburse certain patients; authorizing the Office 8
46+of the Comptroller to share or disclose certain information under certain 9
47+circumstances requiring the Health Services Cost Review Commission, in 10
48+coordination with the Department of Human Services, the State designated 11
49+exchange, the Office of the Comptroller, and the Maryland Hospital Association, to 12 2 HOUSE BILL 694
5650
57-19–214.4.
5851
59- (A) THE COMMISSION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
60-HUMAN SERVICES, THE STATE DESIGNATED EXCH ANGE, THE OFFICE OF THE
61-COMPTROLLER , AND THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, SHALL DEVELOP A
62-PROCESS THAT :
52+develop a process for identifying and reimbursing certain patients of hospitals; 1
53+requiring hospitals to implement the process under certain circumstances; and 2
54+generally relating to hospitals, financial assistance policies, and reimbursement for 3
55+paid bills. 4
6356
64- (1) IDENTIFIES THE PATIEN TS WHO PAID FOR HOSP ITAL SERVICES
65-WHO MAY HAVE QUALIFI ED FOR FREE CARE UND ER § 19–214.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE AT
66-THE TIME OF CARE IN DURING CALENDAR YEARS 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, AND
67-THROUGH 2021;
57+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
58+ Article – Health – General 6
59+Section 19–214.1(b)(1) 7
60+ Annotated Code of Maryland 8
61+ (2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 9
6862
69- (2) PROVIDES REIMBURSEMEN T TO THE PATIENTS ID ENTIFIED
70-UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , WHICH MAY BE APPLIED INCREMENTALLY ;
63+BY adding to 10
64+ Article – Health – General 11
65+Section 19–214.4 12
66+ Annotated Code of Maryland 13
67+ (2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 14
7168
72- (3) ENSURES THAT A PATIEN T’S ALTERNATE ADDRESS IS USED IF THE
73-PATIENT REQUESTED AN AL TERNATE ADDRESS FOR SAFETY REASONS ; AND
69+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
70+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
7471
75- (4) DETERMINES HOW THE COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT OF
76-HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER SHOULD SH ARE WITH
77-OR DISCLOSE RELEVANT INFORMATION , INCLUDING TAX INFORM ATION, TO THE
78-MINIMUM EXTENT NECESSARY , TO THE HOSPITAL AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH
79-FEDERAL AND STATE CONFIDENTIALITY LAWS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT
80-THE PROCESS DEVELOPE D UNDER THIS SUBSECT ION.
72+Article – Health – General 17
8173
82- (B) THE COMMISSION MAY MODIFY THE PROCESS DEVELOPE D UNDER
83-SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AS NECES SARY.
74+19–214.1. 18
8475
85- (B) (C) (1) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2023, AND JANUARY 1, 2024,
86-THE COMMISSION SHALL REPO RT TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE
87-HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE
88-WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE DEVELOPMENT A ND
89-IMPLEMENTATION BY HO SPITALS OF THE PROCE SS REQUIRED UNDER SU BSECTION
90-(A) OF THIS SECTION.
76+ (b) (1) (I) The Commission shall require each acute care hospital and each 19
77+chronic care hospital in the State under the jurisdiction of the Commission to develop a 20
78+financial assistance policy for providing free and reduced–cost care to patients who lack 21
79+health care coverage or whose health care coverage does not pay the full cost of the hospital 22
80+bill. 23
9181
92- (2) IF THE PROCESS DEVELO PED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS
93-SECTION REQUIRES LEG ISLATION FOR IMPLEME NTATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 683
82+ (II) IF NECESSARY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS 24
83+SECTION, THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER MAY SHARE OR DISCLOSE RELEVANT 25
84+TAX INFORMATION . 26
9485
95-– 3 –
96-INCLUDE THE LEGISLAT IVE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT REQUIR ED ON OR
97-BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2023, UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION .
86+19–214.4. 27
9887
99- (3) IF THE PROCESS ESTABL ISHED UNDER SUBSECTI ON (A) OF THIS
100-SECTION DOES NOT REQ UIRE LEGISLATION , EACH HOSPITAL SHALL IMPLEMENT
101-THE PROCESS DEVELOPE D UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ON O R BEFORE
102-JANUARY 1, 2023.
88+ (A) THE COMMISSION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 28
89+HUMAN SERVICES, THE STATE DESIGNATED EXCH ANGE, THE OFFICE OF THE 29
90+COMPTROLLER , AND THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, SHALL DEVELOP A 30
91+PROCESS THAT : 31
10392
104- (A) IN THIS SECTION , “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF THE
105-COMPTROLLER .
93+ (1) IDENTIFIES THE PATIEN TS WHO PAID FOR HOSP ITAL SERVICES 32
94+WHO MAY HAVE QUALIFI ED FOR FREE CARE UND ER § 19–214.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE AT 33
95+THE TIME OF CARE IN DURING CALENDAR YEARS 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, AND 34
96+THROUGH 2021; 35
97+ HOUSE BILL 694 3
10698
107- (B) THE PURPOSE OF THIS S ECTION IS:
10899
109- (1) TO INFORM A PATIENT T HAT THE PATIENT MAY HAVE QUALIFIED
110-FOR FREE CARE UNDER § 19–214.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE AT THE TIME OF CARE AT A
111-HOSPITAL REGULATED B Y THE COMMISSION; AND
100+ (2) PROVIDES REIMBURSEMEN T TO THE PATIENTS ID ENTIFIED 1
101+UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , WHICH MAY BE APPLIED INCREMENTALLY ; 2
112102
113- (2) PROVIDE THE PATIENT W ITH AN OPPORTUNITY T O OBTAIN
114-REIMBURSEMENT FOR PA ID SERVICES RECEIVED FROM THE HOSPITAL .
103+ (3) ENSURES THAT A PATIEN T’S ALTERNATE ADDRESS IS USED IF THE 3
104+PATIENT REQUESTED AN ALTERNATE ADDRESS FO R SAFETY REASONS ; AND 4
115105
116- (C) (1) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , THE
117-COMMISSION, THE OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL
118-DEVELOP A PROCESS TO IDENTIFY AND INFORM PATIENTS WHO MAY HAV E
119-QUALIFIED FOR FREE C ARE WHILE RECEIVING INPATIENT OR OUTPATI ENT
120-SERVICES FROM A HOSPITAL .
106+ (4) DETERMINES HOW THE COMMISSION, THE DEPARTMENT OF 5
107+HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER SHOULD SH ARE WITH 6
108+OR DISCLOSE RELEVANT INFORMATION , INCLUDING TAX INFORM ATION, TO THE 7
109+MINIMUM EXTENT NECES SARY, TO THE HOSPITAL AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH 8
110+FEDERAL AND STATE CONFIDENTIALITY LAWS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT 9
111+THE PROCESS DEVELOPE D UNDER THIS SUBSECT ION. 10
121112
122- (II) TO ACCOMPLISH THE PUR POSE OF THIS SECTION , THE
123-OFFICE MAY SHARE OR D ISCLOSE RELEVANT TAX INFORMATION .
113+ (B) THE COMMISSION MAY MODIFY THE PROCESS DEVELOPE D UNDER 11
114+SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AS N ECESSARY. 12
124115
125- (2) THE PROCESS TO IDENTI FY PATIENTS UNDER PA RAGRAPH (1) OF
126-THIS SUBSECTION SHAL L INCLUDE:
116+ (B) (C) (1) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2023, AND JANUARY 1, 2024, 13
117+THE COMMISSION SHALL REPO RT TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE 14
118+HOUSE HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, IN ACCORDANCE 15
119+WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, ON THE DEVELOPMENT A ND 16
120+IMPLEMENTATION BY HO SPITALS OF THE PROCESS R EQUIRED UNDER SUBSEC TION 17
121+(A) OF THIS SECTION. 18
127122
128- (I) DATA SHARING BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE
129-OFFICE;
123+ (2) IF THE PROCESS DEVELO PED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS 19
124+SECTION REQUIRES LEG ISLATION FOR IMPLEME NTATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL 20
125+INCLUDE THE LEGISLAT IVE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT REQUIRED ON OR 21
126+BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2023, UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 22
130127
131- (II) PROTECTING PERSONAL I NFORMATION ;
128+ (3) IF THE PROCESS ESTABL ISHED UNDER SUBSECTI ON (A) OF THIS 23
129+SECTION DOES NOT REQ UIRE LEGISLATION , EACH HOSPITAL SHALL IMPLEMENT 24
130+THE PROCESS DEVELOPE D UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ON OR B EFORE 25
131+JANUARY 1, 2023. 26
132132
133- (III) MATCHING PATIENT DATA FROM THE COMMISSION WITH
134-TAX DATA FROM THE OFFICE; AND
133+ (A) IN THIS SECTION , “OFFICE” MEANS THE OFFICE OF THE 27
134+COMPTROLLER . 28
135135
136- (IV) ANALYZING THE MATCHED DATA TO DETERMINE A LIST OF
137-PATIENTS WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A R EFUND FOR PAID CARE UNDER THIS
138-SECTION.
139- Ch. 683 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
136+ (B) THE PURPOSE OF THIS S ECTION IS: 29
140137
141-– 4 –
142- (3) THE COMMISSION, THE OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
143-HUMAN SERVICES SHALL MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT T HE PATIENT WAS
144-ELIGIBLE FOR FREE CA RE AT THE TIME OF SE RVICE BASED ON WHETH ER:
138+ (1) TO INFORM A PATIENT T HAT THE PATIENT MAY HAVE QUALIFIED 30
139+FOR FREE CARE UNDER § 19–214.1 OF THIS SUBTITLE AT THE TIME OF CARE AT A 31
140+HOSPITAL REGULATED B Y THE COMMISSION; AND 32
145141
146- (I) THE PATIENT’S INCOME WAS AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE
147-FEDERAL POVERTY LEVE L; OR
142+ (2) PROVIDE THE PATIENT W ITH AN OPPORTUNITY T O OBTAIN 33
143+REIMBURSEMENT FOR PA ID SERVICES RECEIVED FROM THE HOSPITAL . 34 4 HOUSE BILL 694
148144
149- (II) THE PATIENT WAS DETER MINED TO BE PRESUMPT IVELY
150-ELIGIBLE UNDER § 2–214.1(B)(7) OF THIS TITLE.
151145
152- (4) (I) 1. IF A PATIENT WAS DETE RMINED TO BE ELIGIBL E FOR
153-FREE CARE AND THE PA TIENT’S INCOME WAS AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL
154-POVERTY LEVEL , THE PATIENT SHALL BE NOTIFIED BY THE OFFICE BY FIRST–CLASS
155-MAIL IN THE FORM SPE CIFIED UNDER SUBSUBP ARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS
156-SUBPARAGRAPH .
157146
158- 2. THE OFFICE SHALL SEND THE ELIGIBLE PATIENT A
159-POSTCARD THAT :
147+ (C) (1) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , THE 1
148+COMMISSION, THE OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL 2
149+DEVELOP A PROCESS TO IDENTIFY AND INFORM PATIENTS WHO MAY HAV E 3
150+QUALIFIED FOR FREE C ARE WHILE RECEIVING INPATIENT OR OUTPATI ENT 4
151+SERVICES FROM A HOSP ITAL. 5
160152
161- A. INCLUDES THE OFFICIAL SE AL OF THE
162-COMPTROLLER ;
153+ (II) TO ACCOMPLISH THE PUR POSE OF THIS SECTION, THE 6
154+OFFICE MAY SHARE OR D ISCLOSE RELEVANT TAX INFORMATION . 7
163155
164- B. IS ON COLORED CARDSTO CK; AND
156+ (2) THE PROCESS TO IDENTI FY PATIENTS UNDER PA RAGRAPH (1) OF 8
157+THIS SUBSECTION SHAL L INCLUDE: 9
165158
166- C. INCLUDES THE FOLLOWIN G STATEMENT :
159+ (I) DATA SHARING BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE 10
160+OFFICE; 11
167161
168- “OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU PAID FOR CA RE AT (HOSPITAL’S NAME)
169-IN (YEAR), WERE ELIGIBLE FOR FR EE CARE, AND MAY BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND.
170-TO LEARN MORE , GO TO (COMMISSION’S WEBSITE). TO APPLY FOR A REFUND , GO TO
171-(HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE), OR CALL (HOSPITAL’S PHONE NUMBER )”.
162+ (II) PROTECTING PERSONA L INFORMATION ; 12
172163
173- 3. THE STATEMENT REQUIRE D TO BE INCLUDED ON THE
174-POSTCARD UNDER SUBSU BPARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE IN:
164+ (III) MATCHING PATIENT DATA FROM THE COMMISSION WITH 13
165+TAX DATA FROM THE OFFICE; AND 14
175166
176- A. 12 POINT FONT; AND
167+ (IV) ANALYZING THE MATCHED DATA TO DETERMINE A LIST OF 15
168+PATIENTS WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUN D FOR PAID CARE UNDE R THIS 16
169+SECTION. 17
177170
178- B. EACH LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY THE POPULATION TH AT
179-CONSTITUTES AT LEAST 5% OF THE OVERALL POPUL ATION WITHIN THE COU NTY IN
180-WHICH THE HOSPITAL I S LOCATED AS MEASURE D BY THE MOST RECENT CENSUS.
171+ (3) THE COMMISSION, THE OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF 18
172+HUMAN SERVICES SHALL MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT T HE PATIENT WAS 19
173+ELIGIBLE FOR FREE CA RE AT THE TIME OF SE RVICE BASED ON WHETH ER: 20
181174
182- (II) 1. IF A PATIENT WAS DETE RMINED TO BE ELIGIBL E FOR
183-FREE CARE AND THE PA TIENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE PRESUMPTIVELY ELIGIBLE
184-UNDER § 2–214.1(B)(7) OF THIS TITLE, THE PATIENT SHALL BE NOTIFIED BY THE LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 683
175+ (I) THE PATIENT’S INCOME WAS AT OR B ELOW 200% OF THE 21
176+FEDERAL POVERTY LEVE L; OR 22
185177
186-– 5 –
187-DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BY FIRST–CLASS MAIL IN THE FO RM SPECIFIED
188-UNDER SUBSUBPARAGRAP H 2 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH .
178+ (II) THE PATIENT WAS DETER MINED TO BE PRESUMPT IVELY 23
179+ELIGIBLE UNDER § 2–214.1(B)(7) OF THIS TITLE. 24
189180
190- 2. THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL
191-SEND THE ELIGIBLE PA TIENT A POSTCARD THA T:
181+ (4) (I) 1. IF A PATIENT WAS DETE RMINED TO BE ELIGIBL E FOR 25
182+FREE CARE AND THE PA TIENT’S INCOME WAS AT OR B ELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL 26
183+POVERTY LEVEL , THE PATIENT SHALL BE NOTIFI ED BY THE OFFICE BY FIRST–CLASS 27
184+MAIL IN THE FORM SPE CIFIED UNDER SUBSUBP ARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS 28
185+SUBPARAGRAPH . 29
192186
193- A. INCLUDES THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT
194-OF HUMAN SERVICES;
187+ 2. THE OFFICE SHALL SEND THE ELIGIBLE PATIENT A 30
188+POSTCARD THAT : 31
189+ HOUSE BILL 694 5
195190
196- B. IS ON COLORED CARDSTO CK; AND
197191
198- C. INCLUDES THE FOLLOWIN G STATEMENT :
192+ A. INCLUDES THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE 1
193+COMPTROLLER ; 2
199194
200- “OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU PAID FOR CA RE AT (HOSPITAL’S NAME)
201-IN (YEAR), WERE ELIGIBLE FOR FR EE CARE, AND MAY BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND.
202-TO LEARN MORE GO TO (COMMISSION’S WEBSITE). TO APPLY FOR A REFUND , GO TO
203-(HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE), OR CALL (HOSPITAL’S PHONE NUMBER )”.
195+ B. IS ON COLORED CARDSTO CK; AND 3
204196
205- 3. THE STATEMENT REQUIRE D TO BE INCLUDED ON THE
206-POSTCARD UNDER SUBSU BPARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE IN:
197+ C. INCLUDES THE FOLLOWIN G STATEMENT : 4
207198
208- A. 12 POINT FONT; AND
199+ “OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU PAID FOR CA RE AT (HOSPITAL’S NAME) 5
200+IN (YEAR), WERE ELIGIBLE FOR FR EE CARE, AND MAY BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND. 6
201+TO LEARN MORE , GO TO (COMMISSION’S WEBSITE). TO APPLY FOR A REFUND , GO TO 7
202+(HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE), OR CALL (HOSPITAL’S PHONE NUMBER )”. 8
209203
210- B. EACH LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY THE POPULATION TH AT
211-CONSTITUTES AT LEAST 5% OF THE OVERALL POPUL ATION WITHIN THE COU NTY IN
212-WHICH THE HOSPITAL I S LOCATED AS MEASURE D BY THE MOST RECENT CENSUS.
204+ 3. THE STATEMENT REQUIRE D TO BE INCLUDED ON THE 9
205+POSTCARD UNDER SUBSU BPARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE IN: 10
213206
214- (III) THE LINKS IDENTIFIED ON THE POSTCARDS SEN T UNDER
215-THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE PROMINENTLY DISPL AYED ON THE MAIN PAGE OF THE
216-COMMISSION’S WEBSITE AND ON EAC H HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE.
207+ A. 12 POINT FONT; AND 11
217208
218- (5) EACH HOSPITAL SHALL :
209+ B. EACH LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY THE POPULA TION THAT 12
210+CONSTITUTES AT LEAST 5% OF THE OVERALL POPUL ATION WITHIN THE COU NTY IN 13
211+WHICH THE HOSPITAL I S LOCATED AS MEASURE D BY THE MOST RECENT CENSUS. 14
219212
220- (I) CREATE A WEBPAGE THAT INCLUDES:
213+ (II) 1. IF A PATIENT WAS DETE RMINED TO BE ELIGIBL E FOR 15
214+FREE CARE AND THE PA TIENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE PRESUMPTIVELY ELIGIB LE 16
215+UNDER § 2–214.1(B)(7) OF THIS TITLE, THE PATIENT SHALL BE NOTIFIED BY THE 17
216+DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES BY FIRST–CLASS MAIL IN THE FO RM SPECIFIED 18
217+UNDER SUBSUBPARAGRAP H 2 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH . 19
221218
222- 1. INFORMATION ABOUT REF UNDS FOR CHARGES PAI D
223-IF THE PATIENT QUALI FIED FOR FREE CARE A T THE TIME OF SERVIC E;
219+ 2. THE DEPARTMEN T OF HUMAN SERVICES SHALL 20
220+SEND THE ELIGIBLE PA TIENT A POSTCARD THA T: 21
224221
225- 2. A PROCESS TO APPLY FOR A REFUND, INCLUDING
226-RELEVANT TIMELINES F OR APPLYING FOR A RE FUND; AND
222+ A. INCLUDES THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT 22
223+OF HUMAN SERVICES; 23
227224
228- 3. A DESIGNATED SINGLE PO INT OF CONTACT AT TH E
229-HOSPITAL, INCLUDING THE CONTAC T’S NAME, E–MAIL ADDRESS , AND TELEPHONE
230-NUMBER. Ch. 683 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
225+ B. IS ON COLORED CARDSTO CK; AND 24
231226
232-– 6 –
227+ C. INCLUDES THE FOLLOWIN G STATEMENT : 25
233228
234- (II) WHEN CONTACTED BY A P ATIENT WHO RECEIVED WRI TTEN
235-NOTIFICATION FROM TH E OFFICE OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES:
229+ “OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT YOU PAID FOR CARE AT (HOSPITAL’S NAME) 26
230+IN (YEAR), WERE ELIGIBLE FOR FR EE CARE, AND MAY BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND. 27
231+TO LEARN MORE GO TO (COMMISSION’S WEBSITE). TO APPLY FOR A REFUND , GO TO 28
232+(HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE), OR CALL (HOSPITAL’S PHONE NUMBER )”. 29
236233
237- 1. DETERMINE WHETHER THE PATIENT PAID A BILL
238-DURING THE DESIGNATE D YEAR AND WAS NOT D ISQUALIFIED FROM FRE E CARE
239-BASED ON THE USE OF AN ASSET TEST UNDER § 19–214.1(B)(8) OF THIS TITLE; AND
234+ 3. THE STATEMENT REQUIRED T O BE INCLUDED ON THE 30
235+POSTCARD UNDER SUBSU BPARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE IN: 31 6 HOUSE BILL 694
240236
241- 2. IF THE PATIENT PAID A BILL AND WAS NOT
242-DISQUALIFIED, REIMBURSE THE PATIEN T FOR THE AMOUNT THE PATIENT PAID FOR
243-CARE OUT OF POCKET .
244237
245- (6) (I) THE COMMISSION MAY NOT RA ISE HOSPITAL RATES , AS
246-PART OF THE ANNUAL U PDATE FACTOR, TO OFFSET THE HOSPIT AL’S DIRECT
247-REFUNDS TO PATIENTS UNDER PARAGRAPH (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION .
248238
249- (II) 1. EACH HOSPITAL SHALL R EIMBURSE THE
250-COMMISSION, THE OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE
251-COSTS INCURRED IN CO MPLYING WITH THIS SE CTION.
239+ A. 12 POINT FONT; AND 1
252240
253- 2. REIMBURSEMENT FROM A HOSPITAL UNDER THIS
254-SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL B E BASED ON THE NUMBE R OF PATIENTS IN THE
255-DESIGNATED YEAR THAT WERE BILLED BY THE H OSPITAL, AS DETERMINED BY THE
256-COMMISSION.
241+ B. EACH LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY THE POPULATION TH AT 2
242+CONSTITUTES AT LEAST 5% OF THE OVERALL POPUL ATION WITHIN THE COU NTY IN 3
243+WHICH THE HOSPITAL I S LOCATED AS MEASURE D BY THE MOST RECENT CENSUS. 4
257244
258- (D) (1) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022, THE COMMISSION SHAL L
259-IMPLEMENT THE PROCES S DEVELOPED UNDER SU BSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION
260-FOR PATIENTS WHO REC EIVED CARE DURING CA LENDAR YEARS 2017 AND 2018.
245+ (III) THE LINKS IDENTIFIED ON THE POSTCARDS SEN T UNDER 5
246+THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE PROMINENTLY DISPL AYED ON THE MAIN PAG E OF THE 6
247+COMMISSION’S WEBSITE AND ON EAC H HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE. 7
261248
262- (II) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2023, THE COMMISSION SHALL
263-DETERMINE, OF THE NUMBER OF PAT IENTS WHO RECEIVED C ARE DURIN G
264-CALENDAR YEARS 2017 AND 2018 AND WERE SENT WRITTE N NOTIFICATION UNDER
265-THIS SECTION, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO CONTACT ED EACH HOSPITAL .
249+ (5) EACH HOSPITAL SHALL : 8
266250
267- (2) IF THE TOTAL NUMBER O F PATIENTS WHO CONTA CTED EACH
268-HOSPITAL, AS DETERMINED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION , WAS
269-AT LEAST 5% OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE D THE WRITTEN NOTICE , BEGINNING ON JULY
270-1, 2023, THE COMMISSION SHALL IMPL EMENT THE PROCESS DE VELOPED UNDER
271-SUBSECTION (C) OF THE SECTION FOR P ATIENTS WHO RECEIVED CARE DURING
272-CALENDAR YEARS 2019, 2020, AND 2021.
251+ (I) CREATE A WEBPAGE THAT INCLUDES: 9
273252
274- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
275-1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 2 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2027 LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 683
253+ 1. INFORMATION ABOUT REF UNDS FOR CHARGES PAI D 10
254+IF THE PATIENT QUALI FIED FOR FREE CARE A T THE TIME OF SERVIC E; 11
276255
277-– 7 –
278-2024 2025, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be
279-abrogated and of no further force and effect.
256+ 2. A PROCESS TO APPLY FOR A REFUND, INCLUDING 12
257+RELEVANT TIMELINES F OR APPLYING FOR A REFUND ; AND 13
280258
281-Enacted under Article II, § 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution, May 29, 2022.
259+ 3. A DESIGNATED SINGLE PO INT OF CONTACT AT TH E 14
260+HOSPITAL, INCLUDING THE CONTAC T’S NAME, E–MAIL ADDRESS , AND TELEPHONE 15
261+NUMBER. 16
262+
263+ (II) WHEN CONTACTED BY A P ATIENT WHO RECEIVED WRITTEN 17
264+NOTIFICATION FROM TH E OFFICE OR THE DEPARTME NT OF HUMAN SERVICES: 18
265+
266+ 1. DETERMINE WHETHER THE PATIENT PAID A BILL 19
267+DURING THE DESIGNATE D YEAR AND WAS NOT D ISQUALIFIED FROM FRE E CARE 20
268+BASED ON THE USE OF AN ASSET TEST UNDER § 19–214.1(B)(8) OF THIS TITLE; AND 21
269+
270+ 2. IF THE PATIENT PAID A BILL AND WAS NOT 22
271+DISQUALIFIED, REIMBURSE THE PATIEN T FOR THE AMOUNT THE PATIENT PAID FOR 23
272+CARE OUT OF POCKET . 24
273+
274+ (6) (I) THE COMMISSION MAY NOT RA ISE HOSPITAL RATES , AS 25
275+PART OF THE ANNUAL U PDATE FACTOR , TO OFFSET THE HOSPIT AL’S DIRECT 26
276+REFUNDS TO PATIENTS UNDER PARAGRAPH (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 27
277+
278+ (II) 1. EACH HOSPITAL SHALL R EIMBURSE THE 28
279+COMMISSION, THE OFFICE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE 29
280+COSTS INCURRED IN CO MPLYING WITH THIS SE CTION. 30
281+ HOUSE BILL 694 7
282+
283+
284+ 2. REIMBURSEMENT FROM A HOSPITAL UNDER THIS 1
285+SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL B E BASED ON THE NUMBE R OF PATIENTS IN THE 2
286+DESIGNATED YEAR THAT WERE BILLED BY THE H OSPITAL, AS DETERMINED BY THE 3
287+COMMISSION. 4
288+
289+ (D) (1) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022, THE COMMISSION SHALL 5
290+IMPLEMENT THE PROCES S DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION 6
291+FOR PATIENTS WHO REC EIVED CARE DURING CA LENDAR YEARS 2017 AND 2018. 7
292+
293+ (II) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2023, THE COMMISSION SHALL 8
294+DETERMINE, OF THE NUMBER OF PAT IENTS WHO RECEIVED C ARE DURING 9
295+CALENDAR YEARS 2017 AND 2018 AND WERE SENT WRITTEN NOTIFIC ATION UNDER 10
296+THIS SECTION, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO CONTACT ED EACH HOSPITAL . 11
297+
298+ (2) IF THE TOTAL NUMBER O F PATIENTS WHO CONTA CTED EACH 12
299+HOSPITAL, AS DETERMINED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION , WAS 13
300+AT LEAST 5% OF THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE WRI TTEN NOTICE, BEGINNING ON JULY 14
301+1, 2023, THE COMMISSION SHALL IMPL EMENT THE PROCESS DE VELOPED UNDER 15
302+SUBSECTION (C) OF THE SECTION FOR P ATIENTS WHO RECEIVED CARE DURING 16
303+CALENDAR YEARS 2019, 2020, AND 2021. 17
304+
305+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER E NACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
306+1, 2022. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 2 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2027 19
307+2024 2025, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 20
308+abrogated and of no further force and effect. 21
309+
310+
311+
312+
313+Approved:
314+________________________________________________________________________________
315+ Governor.
316+________________________________________________________________________________
317+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.
318+________________________________________________________________________________
319+ President of the Senate.