Part I – By Health Care Practitioners
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code § 4-201 (2026)
§ 4-201 Physicians.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Duty to report.
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)When to report.
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)Contents of report.
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
Balt., Md., Code § 4-202 (2026)
§ 4-202 Health care facilities.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Reporting officer.
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)Duty to report.
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)When to report.
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)Contents of report.
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)Nature of report.
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
Balt., Md., Code § 4-203 (2026)
§ 4-203 Laboratories — in general.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Duty to report.
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)When to report.
(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)Contents of report.
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)Test result not final diagnosis.
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
Balt., Md., Code § 4-204 (2026)
§ 4-204 Laboratories — referral of cultures.LinkCopy Citation
(a)When referral required.
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)Effect of referral.
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
Balt., Md., Code § 4-205 to 4-206 (2026)
§§ 4-205 to 4-206LinkCopy Citation
Reserved