<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 31 – Health Care Advisory Panel">
  <section prefix="§" num="31-1" heading="Definitions.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">For the purpose of this subtitle, the following words have the meanings indicated unless their context clearly indicates otherwise.</para>
    <para num="(b)" />
    <para num="(c)" heading="Provider.">
      <para num="(1)">“Provider” means a person licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the &lt;cite data-doc="Md. Code" data-path="gho"&gt;Health Occupations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland&lt;/cite&gt; to provide health care services in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.</para>
      <para num="(2)">“Provider” includes a health care facility, professional service corporation, partnership, limited liability company, professional office, or any other entity licensed or authorized by law to render professional services for or on behalf of a provider.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Provider panel.">“Provider panel” means a group of providers who have entered into a provider service contract with a carrier to provide services under the carrier’s health benefit plan.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §27D(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 96-077</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-125</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="31-2" heading="Composition of Advisory Panel.">
    <text>The Health Care Advisory Panel shall consist of:</text>
    <para num="(1)">the Commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department;</para>
    <para num="(2)">the Director of Human Resources;</para>
    <para num="(3)">the Labor Commissioner;</para>
    <para num="(4)">a member of the City Council Health and Environment Committee as chosen by the Committee;</para>
    <para num="(5)">a representative of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland as chosen by the general membership;</para>
    <para num="(6)">a representative of the Maryland Hospital Association as chosen by the general membership;</para>
    <para num="(7)">a representative of the Monumental City Medical Society as chosen by the general membership;</para>
    <para num="(8)">a representative of the Black Mental Health Alliance as chosen by the general membership;</para>
    <para num="(9)">a representative of Greater Maryland Coalition for Health Assurance, Inc. as chosen by the general membership;</para>
    <para num="(10)">a representative of the Black Nurses Association of Baltimore as chosen by the general membership;</para>
    <para num="(11)">a representative of the Maryland Association of Health Maintenance Organizations as chosen by the general membership; and</para>
    <para num="(12)">a representative of the Metropolitan Council of the AFL-CIO.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §27D(b)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 96-077</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 04-822</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="31-3" heading="Annual review of providers, etc.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Advisory Panel to review.">The Health Care Advisory Panel shall conduct an annual review of all persons, providers, or provider panels prequalified to provide health care services to employees or dependents of employees of the City of Baltimore.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Scope of review.">The annual review shall cover the evaluation criteria adopted by the Board of Estimates, including, but not limited to, the following evaluation criteria:<para num="(1)">that each entity seeking to provide health care services under this subtitle consider all qualified applicants for its provider panel without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin;</para>
      <para num="(2)">that all solicitations or advertisements for applicants for membership on provider panels state that all qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">that all participants in the prequalification process maintain a provider panel that meets certain criteria with respect to ethnic diversity as determined by the Board of Estimates.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §27D(c)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 96-077</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-124</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="31-4" heading="Annual report.">
    <text>The Health Care Advisory Panel shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council and the Board of Estimates by April 30 of each year.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §27D(d)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 96-077</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
