Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 7 - Health Maintenance Organizations
Section 19-702 - Declaration of Intent and Policy

(a)    In adopting this subtitle, the General Assembly intends to:
        (1)    Provide alternative methods for the delivery of health care services to residents of this State, with a view toward achieving greater efficiency and economy in providing these services;
        (2)    Encourage the formation of health maintenance organizations that provide health care services to subscribers or groups of subscribers who contract for these services under a system of prepayments; and
        (3)    Encourage the formation of health maintenance organizations by such diverse groups as:
            (i)    Nonprofit health service plans;
            (ii)    Medical health service plans;
            (iii)    Medical care foundations;
            (iv)    Groups of professionals, either in the form of partnerships or professional corporations;
            (v)    Consumer sponsored organizations; or
            (vi)    Business or legal entities.
    (b)    To carry out the intent of subsection (a) of this section, the policy of this State is to:
        (1)    Provide one overall State law that:
            (i)    Regulates health maintenance organizations;
            (ii)    Allows flexibility for the many forms these health maintenance organizations may take; and
            (iii)    Facilitates public understanding and uniform administration of the rules and regulations that are adopted under this subtitle;
        (2)    Eliminate legal barriers to the organization, promotion, and expansion of health maintenance organizations;
        (3)    Provide for regulation of:
            (i)    The quality of health care, by the Department and by professional standards review organizations where appropriate; and
            (ii)    All other matters covered under this subtitle, by the Commissioner; and
        (4)    Exempt health maintenance organizations from the insurance laws of this State, except as set forth in this subtitle.

Structure Maryland Statutes