<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gcl" article_name="Commercial Law" number="13-4A-02" title_number="13" title_name="Consumer Protection Act" subtitle_number="4A" subtitle_name="Health Education and Advocacy Unit">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Unit may implement an educational and advocacy program designed to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Enable health care consumers to make more informed choices in the health marketplace, and to be able to participate in decisions concerning their health care; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Otherwise promote the interest of health consumers in the health marketplace.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Unit may assist health care consumers in understanding their health care bills and third party coverage, in identifying improper billing or coverage determinations, and in reporting any billing or coverage problems to appropriate entities, including the Division, the Attorney General or other governmental agencies, insurers, or providers.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Whenever the Unit requests information from an insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization in order to assist a health care consumer for the purposes provided in this paragraph, the insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization shall provide the information to the Unit no later than 7 working days from the date the insurer, nonprofit health service plan, or health maintenance organization received the request.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Whenever any billing or coverage question concerns the adequacy or propriety of any services or treatment, the Unit shall refer the matter to an appropriate professional, licensing, or disciplinary body, as applicable. The Unit may monitor the progress of the concerns raised by health consumers through such referrals.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Whenever any billing or coverage question concerns a matter within the jurisdiction of the Insurance Commissioner, the Unit shall refer the matter to the Commissioner. The Unit may monitor the progress of the concerns raised by health consumers through such referrals.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Unit shall work with the Maryland Department of Health to assist with resolving any billing or coverage questions as necessary.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Unit may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Recommend to the Attorney General, the Governor, the General Assembly, or other appropriate governmental agencies any measures that will promote the interests of health consumers in the health marketplace; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Present for consideration relevant information on the effects on health care consumers generally in any agency proceeding which is otherwise open to the public.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Nothing in this section shall mean that the Unit may have authority to bring any civil action seeking review of a State agency determination.</text>
  </level>
</section>
