# Subtitle 2 – Reporting Diseases — In General

Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.

## Part I – By Health Care Practitioners

### § 4-201 Physicians.

Balt., Md., Code § 4-201 (2026)

(a) Every physician must report to the Commissioner of Health every confirmed or suspected diagnosis of any disease or condition that, the Commissioner specifies by rule or regulation adopted under <cite data-path="|health|§2-106">§ 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article</cite> for purposes of this section .

(b) Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of the diagnosis.

(c) In addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|health|§4-102">§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title</cite>, the report must contain the following information:

  (1) the identity of the disease or condition; and

  (2) the date of its onset.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

*History: Text Conformed 03/10/21*

### § 4-202 Health care facilities.

Balt., Md., Code § 4-202 (2026)

(a) The chief administrative officer of each hospital, related institution, clinic, pharmacy, or other health care facility must appoint an individual from the facility’s full-time staff to serve as the facility’s reporting officer.

(b) The reporting officer must report to the Commissioner every confirmed or suspected diagnosis of any disease or condition that the Commissioner specifies by rule or regulation adopted under <cite data-path="|health|§2-106">§ 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article</cite> for purposes of this section.

(c) Except for specified diseases or conditions that the Commissioner or State law requires to be reported on a more timely basis, the report must be made within 48 hours for all patients who have been:

  (1) newly admitted to the facility;

  (2) admitted to an isolation ward;

  (3) treated on an emergency or out-patient basis; or

  (4) discharged without having been previously reported.

(d) In addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|health|§4-102">§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title</cite>, the report must contain the following information:

  (1) the identity of the disease or condition; and

  (2) the date of its onset.

(e) The reporting of a disease or condition under this section does not absolve the attending physician of the duty to report the same disease or condition under <cite data-path="|health|§4-201">§ 4-201 {“Physicians”} of this subtitle</cite>.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

*History: Text Conformed 03/10/21*

### § 4-203 Laboratories — in general.

Balt., Md., Code § 4-203 (2026)

(a) The individual in charge of any public or private medical laboratory must report to the Commissioner  the result of any test of a specimen from a human body that is microscopic cultural, histological, pathological, immunological, serological, or other confirmed or suspected evidence of any disease or condition that the Commissioner specifies by rule or regulation adopted under <cite data-path="|health|§2-106">§ 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article</cite> for purposes of this section.

(b)

  (1) Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 48 hours of obtaining the test results.

  (2) When more than 1 specimen is taken from the same patient during a single disease episode, the individual in charge of the laboratory need not report every test result that shows evidence of the same disease if:

    (i) at least 1 positive test report is reported; and

    (ii) the Commissioner approves in writing the reporting of less than all test results.

(c) In addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|health|§4-102">§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title</cite>, the report must contain the following information:

  (1) the date and type of test performed;

  (2) the results of the test;

  (3) the name and address of the physician for whom the examination was performed; and

  (4) if applicable, an enumeration of colonies of acid-fast bacilli, according to Diagnostic Standards of the American Thoracic Society.

(d) The result of a laboratory test:

  (1) is not to be considered a final diagnosis; and

  (2) does not absolve the attending physician of the duty to report her or his diagnosis of the case under <cite data-path="|health|§4-201">§ 4-201 {“Physicians”} of this subtitle</cite>.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

*History: Text Conformed 03/10/21*

### § 4-204 Laboratories — referral of cultures.

Balt., Md., Code § 4-204 (2026)

(a) The Commissioner may require that cultures containing acid-fast bacilli be referred to the Maryland State Laboratory unless they have been identified in accordance with standards set by the Commissioner.

(b) The referral of cultures does not:

  (1) satisfy the reporting requirements of <cite data-path="|health|§4-203">§ 4-203 {“Laboratories — in general”} of this subtitle</cite>; or

  (2) excuse delay in transmitting a presumptive culture result to the attending physician.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

### §§ 4-205 to 4-206

Balt., Md., Code § 4-205 to 4-206 (2026)

Reserved

## Part II – By Others

### § 4-207 Lodging facilities.

Balt., Md., Code § 4-207 (2026)

(a) In this section, “lodging facility” means any:

  (1) hotel or motel;

  (2) rooming house;

  (3) apartment house;

  (4) dwelling house; or

  (5) public or private institution in which individuals abide temporarily or permanently.

(b) The individual in charge of a lodging facility must report to the Commissioner anyone in the lodging facility who is suffering from any disease or condition that the Commissioner specifies by rule or regulation adopted under <cite data-path="|health|§2-106">§ 2-106 {“Rules and regulations”} of this article</cite> for purposes of this section.

(c) Unless a different time is set by the Commissioner or by State law, the report must be made within 24 hours of the individual’s being told or otherwise becoming aware of the disease or condition.

*History: Ord. 99-548*

*History: Text Conformed 03/10/21*

### § 4-208 Vessels in harbor.

Balt., Md., Code § 4-208 (2026)

(a) This section does not apply to a vessel that is in medical isolation.

(b) The master, chief officer, or consignee of a vessel must report to the Commissioner anyone on board who is suspected of suffering from a communicable disease.

(c) The report must be made immediately on the vessel’s coming within ¼ mile of any dock, wharf, or building in the City.

(d) In addition to the information required by <cite data-path="|health|§4-102">§ 4-102 {“Form and contents of reports”} of this title</cite>, the report must contain the following information:

  (1) the name and location of the vessel;

  (2) the name of the suspected communicable disease; and

  (3) the name and condition of all individuals on board suffering from the disease.

*History: Ord. 99-548*