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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-1813" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="18" subtitle_name="Assisted Living Programs">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “assisted living referrer” means an individual or agency that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Makes referrals to assisted living programs without cost to the person receiving the referral; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Is compensated by an assisted living program or other third party for referring individuals to a licensed assisted living program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Each assisted living referrer:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Shall register with the Office of Health Care Quality;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Shall disclose to a client or potential client of the assisted living referrer all financial relationships the assisted living referrer has with assisted living programs;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If referring a client or potential client to an assisted living program, shall affirm that the assisted living program is licensed;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If referring a client or potential client to an assisted living program, may refer the client or potential client only to a licensed assisted living program;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Shall maintain general liability insurance;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Shall require employees to obtain a criminal history records check;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Shall provide to the client or the client’s representative a description of the services that will be provided by the referrer;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>If the referrer has a financial agreement with the client or the client’s representative, shall provide the agreement to the client or the client’s representative in writing or by electronic means; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Shall notify the Office of Health Care Quality immediately on learning that the assisted living program is operating without a license.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An assisted living referrer may not:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Receive funding from the Department if the assisted living referrer is in violation of this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Make referrals only to licensed assisted living programs from which the assisted living referrer receives compensation as described in subsection (a)(2) of this section; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Request payment of a referral fee from an assisted living program more than 2 years after the assisted living referrer provided the referral.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If requested by any person or on its own initiative, the Office of the Attorney General may investigate whether an assisted living referrer violated this subtitle and may seek appropriate relief.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Office of Health Care Quality shall maintain a user–friendly database of licensed assisted living programs.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On or before September 30, 2025, an assisted living referrer:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Shall keep a client or potential client’s medical record, as defined in § 4–301 of this article, confidential and may disclose the medical record only for the purpose of making a referral if the client or potential client gives informed written, electronic, or audio recorded consent; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>May not sell the personal data of a client, potential client, or client’s representative to another person unless the client or the client’s representative gives informed written, electronic, or audio recorded consent.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>On or after October 1, 2025, an assisted living referrer shall comply with all applicable data privacy laws.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
