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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="18-112" title_number="18" title_name="Disease Prevention" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="General Responsibilities of Secretary">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Secretary shall issue recommendations for immunizations, screenings, and preventive services for infants, children, and adults that follow the generally accepted consensus within the scientific community and sound clinical guidance as specified in subsection (b) of this section and subject to subsection (c) of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The recommendations shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Be made in accordance with the applicable recommendations of the following authoritative medical organizations:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The American Academy of Pediatrics;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The American Academy of Family Physicians; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Take into consideration the applicable guidance of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Maryland Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunizations;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, including the Health Resources and Services Administration;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Before adopting a recommendation for a preventive service that is not an immunization and has not received a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or an A or B rating from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Secretary shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Hold a notice and comment period of at least 30 days;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Obtain an analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission on the service that meets the requirements of § 15–1501 of the Insurance Article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Cite the applicable recommendations of the authoritative medical organizations on which a recommendation would be based.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Secretary shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Publish recommendations issued under this section on the Department’s website; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Distribute the recommendations issued under this section to licensed health professionals in the State and to the Maryland Insurance Administration.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
