Title 18. Disease Prevention — Subtitle 1. General Responsibilities of Secretary

The introduction of an infectious or contagious disease into this State or other disease that endangers public health in this State; or

The spread of an infectious or contagious disease or other disease that endangers public health in this State.

Investigate the suspected disease; and

Act properly to prevent the spread of the disease.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an individual enrolled in an institution of higher education who resides in on-campus student housing shall be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.

An individual is exempt from the vaccination requirement in paragraph (1) of this subsection if:

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any institution of higher education to provide or pay for vaccinations against meningococcal disease.

The Secretary, in consultation with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, shall adopt regulations necessary to implement this subsection.

Obtain accurate and complete reports on communicable diseases in this State;

Determine the prevalence of each communicable disease; and

Devise means to control communicable diseases.

Encourage continuity of care with the child’s continuing care health care provider;

Promote timely, appropriate screening of children at risk of being poisoned by lead;

Utilize all of the payment mechanisms available to cover lead poisoning screening, including:

Target children under 6 years of age;

Provide lead poisoning screening on a sliding fee scale at sites designated by local health departments for children unable to afford lead poisoning screening; and

Employ an initial questionnaire to assess children’s exposure to potential lead hazards, except that children residing in at risk areas identified under subsection (c) of this section shall be screened by a blood test for lead poisoning.

Census tract and zip code information noting areas with large concentrations of pre-1978 housing; and

Highest rates of lead poisoning as evidenced by information provided to and by the Childhood Lead Registry established and maintained by the Department of the Environment.

Within the time frame specified in regulations adopted by the Department; or

In accordance with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children over age 24 months who have not received a blood test for lead poisoning.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, this section does not require blood testing of a child whose parent or guardian, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Secretary, objects to the testing on the ground that it conflicts with the parent’s or guardian’s bona fide religious beliefs and practices.

Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply if the responses of the child’s parent or guardian on a questionnaire furnished by the Secretary and administered by a pediatrician indicate that the child is at high risk for lead poisoning.

Devise and institute means to prevent and control morbidity and mortality associated with:

Promote the welfare and hygiene of maternity and infancy.

The Secretary shall establish a Morbidity, Mortality, and Quality Review Committee in the Department.

The Committee shall:

To take charge of a child if the parent, guardian, or other person who has custody of the child objects; or

To treat the child for a disease without the consent of the parent, guardian, or other person who has custody of the child.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Food instrument” means a voucher, check, coupon, or other document that is used by a participant to obtain supplemental foods.

“Local agency” means a public or private, nonprofit health or human service agency that:

“Participant” means an individual who is receiving supplemental foods or food instruments under the Program and includes:

“Program” means the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children authorized by § 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended.

“Supplemental foods” means those foods containing nutrients determined to be beneficial for pregnant, breast–feeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children, as prescribed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a local agency shall include in its proposed written agreement the option to require a participant in the Program to report monthly, bimonthly, or trimonthly to a designated site at designated times to receive food instruments prepared for that participant and to acknowledge receipt of the instruments.

Food instruments may be mailed or otherwise delivered to participants by a local agency only if approved by the Department on the basis of hardships which may be encountered by the target population of the local agency, such as seasonally inclement weather.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Authorized user” means:

“Health care provider” means a licensed health care practitioner authorized under the Health Occupations Article to administer vaccines in the State.

“ImmuNet” means a computerized information and reminder system to:

“Immunization” means the process by which an individual becomes protected against a disease including, as the result of having a disease, receiving a vaccination, or receiving preformed antibodies.

“Refusal to permit” means the right of an individual or the parent or guardian of a minor to prevent disclosure to authorized users of individual identifiable information that was reported to ImmuNet.

“Vaccination” means the administration of a killed or weakened infectious organism to prevent disease caused by that organism.

“Vaccine” means a substance that:

To provide coordinated immunization services, including sending reminder notices to individuals who need immunizations;

To obtain an individual immunization history;

To identify geographic areas or population groups that are underimmunized;

To compile aggregate data and distribute statistical reports on the status of immunizations in geographic areas and population groups;

To assist in the management of State and local immunization programs;

To monitor the safety of vaccines;

To assess compliance with immunization requirements by monitoring admissions to schools, institutions of higher learning, and child care facilities; and

For any other purpose that the Secretary deems necessary to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

An individual, or the parent or guardian of a minor child who has received a vaccination, may refuse to permit disclosure of confidential information collected by ImmuNet, to an authorized user.

If the individual or the parent or guardian of a minor child does not want the release of the individual’s or child’s confidential information, the individual or the parent or guardian of a minor child shall complete a “refusal to permit” form, provided by the Department, to be returned to the Department.

The Secretary shall make available “refusal to permit” forms to each health care provider who gives vaccinations.

The Department shall:

Prior to administering vaccines to a newborn child, each birth hospital or birthing center shall distribute the form and the brochure described in paragraphs (2) and (4) of this subsection to the parent of a newborn child.

A health care provider who administers a vaccine, or the agent of the health care provider, shall:

Any records owned or controlled by the Department, including Medicaid records, clinic records, and vital records;

Any authorized user; and

Any other source of information authorized by the Secretary for use.

To release or disclose information in ImmuNet that an individual has refused to disclose;

To solicit new patients or clients; or

For any other purpose unless authorized by the Secretary.

A local health department may operate a local immunization system.

A local health department operating a local immunization system shall be subject to the provisions of subsections (c) through (f) of this section.

A local health department is required to submit information maintained in a local immunization system to ImmuNet in accordance with regulations adopted by the Secretary.

The type and kind of information to be collected;

Procedures for protecting the confidentiality of information in ImmuNet;

The permissible use of information compiled by ImmuNet; and

Standards for maintaining security and reliability of collected information in the system.

The importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment;

Validated assessment tools for the detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment;

The value of a Medicare annual wellness visit or other annual physical for an individual at least 65 years old for cognitive health;

The Medicare care planning billing code for individuals with cognitive impairment; and

Treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including relevant information on treatment use and outcomes; and

The early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias;

The value of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias;

How to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, particularly among individuals in Black and Latino communities who are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; and

Treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and relevant information on treatment use and outcomes, including information related to treatment outcomes based on biological sex.

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the State;

The hospitalization rate related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; and

To the extent possible, the prevalence and hospitalization rate of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias disaggregated based on:

Include the data available for the immediately preceding 5–year period ending September 30, 2025; and

Be updated on or before January 1 each year, beginning in 2027, to include any newly available data.

Be made in accordance with the applicable recommendations of the following authoritative medical organizations:

Take into consideration the applicable guidance of:

Hold a notice and comment period of at least 30 days;

Obtain an analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission on the service that meets the requirements of § 15–1501 of the Insurance Article; and

Cite the applicable recommendations of the authoritative medical organizations on which a recommendation would be based.

Publish recommendations issued under this section on the Department’s website; and

Distribute the recommendations issued under this section to licensed health professionals in the State and to the Maryland Insurance Administration.