<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-2111" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2035 PER CHAPTER 386 OF 2024" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="21" subtitle_name="Maryland Community Health Resources Commission">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Commission, in collaboration with community health resources and local health departments, shall develop a specialty care network for individuals:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>With family income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Who are referred through a community health resource.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The specialty care network shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Consist of health care practitioners who agree to provide care to individuals referred through a community health resource for a discounted fee established by the Commission; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Include health care practitioners who historically have served the uninsured.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Individuals receiving health care through the specialty care network shall pay for specialty care according to a sliding fee scale developed by the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>In addition to patient fees, office–based specialty care visits, diagnostic testing, and laboratory tests shall be subsidized by funds provided from:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>General funds; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Money collected from a nonprofit health maintenance organization in accordance with § 6–121(b)(3) of the Insurance Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Subject to available funding, the Commission shall provide subsidies to community health resources for office–based specialty care visits, diagnostic testing, and laboratory tests.</text>
  </level>
</section>
