Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 4 - Disclosure Requirements for Insurers
Section 4-401 - Reporting Medical Malpractice Claims or Actions

(a)    This section applies to:
        (1)    each insurer that provides professional liability insurance to:
            (i)    a physician, nurse, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, or chiropractor licensed under the Health Occupations Article; or
            (ii)    a hospital licensed under the Health – General Article; and
        (2)    each self–insured hospital.
    (b)    An entity subject to this section shall report quarterly any claim or action for damages for personal injury if the claim or action:
        (1)    is claimed to have been caused by an error, omission, or negligence in the performance of the insured’s professional services or is based on a claimed performance of the insured’s professional services without consent; and
        (2)    resulted in:
            (i)    a final judgment in any amount;
            (ii)    a settlement in any amount; or
            (iii)    a final disposition that does not result in payment on behalf of the insured.
    (c)    A report required under this section shall contain the information required under § 4–405(b) of this subtitle.
    (d)    A report required under this section shall be filed within 90 days after the end of the quarter during which an event described in subsection (b)(2)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section occurred.
    (e)    (1)    A report that relates to a physician shall be filed with the State Board of Physicians.
        (2)    A report that relates to a hospital shall be filed with the Secretary of Health.
        (3)    A report that relates to a nurse, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist, or chiropractor shall be filed with the appropriate licensing board for these health care providers.
    (f)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a report filed in accordance with this section shall be treated as a personal record under § 4–501(e) of the General Provisions Article.
        (2)    Each report shall be released to the Maryland Health Care Commission.
    (g)    An insurer that reports under this section or its agents or employees, the State Board of Physicians or its representatives, and any appropriate licensing authority that receives a report under this section shall have the immunity from liability described in § 5–701 of the Courts Article for any action taken by them under this section.
    (h)    Failure to report to a person specified in subsection (e)(1), (2), or (3) of this section may result in the imposition by a circuit court of a civil penalty of up to $5,000.

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