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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="15-103.5" title_number="15" title_name="Assistance Programs" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Medical and Pharmacy Assistance Programs">
  <level label="a">
    <text>There is a HealthChoice Performance Incentive Fund established in the Department.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall pay all fines collected under § 15–103.1(i)(3)(v) of this subtitle and penalties collected under § 15–103.9(e)(2)(iv) of this subtitle to the Comptroller of the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Comptroller shall distribute the fines to the Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Fund shall be used exclusively for the provider reimbursement budget under the HealthChoice Program, including providing financial incentives designed to improve the quality of care to managed care organizations that exceed performance targets.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Fund is a continuing nonlapsing fund not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, any unspent portions of the Fund may not be transferred or revert to the General Fund of the State, but shall remain in the Fund to be used for the purposes specified in this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>At the end of each fiscal year, any amount in excess of $5 million shall revert to the General Fund.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee shall administer the Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this section, including the distribution of money from the Fund to managed care organizations.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Legislative Auditor shall audit the accounts and transactions of the Fund as provided in § 2–1220 of the State Government Article.</text>
  </level>
</section>
