# Health - General (GHG)

## Title 19. Health Care Facilities

### Subtitle 2. Health Services Cost Review Commission

#### Section 19-214.3

(a)

  (1)

    (i) The Commission shall establish a process for a patient or a patient's authorized representative to file with the Commission a complaint against a hospital for an alleged violation of Sec. 19-214.1 or Sec. 19-214.2 of this subtitle.

    (ii) The process established under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall:

      (1) Include the option for a patient or a patient's authorized representative to file the complaint jointly with the Commission and the Health Education and Advocacy Unit; and

      (2) Provide the patient or the patient's authorized representative with the following information:

      (A) The Health Education and Advocacy Unit is available to assist the patient or the patient's authorized representative in filing and mediating a reconsideration request; and

      (B) The address, phone number, facsimile number, e-mail address, mailing address, and website of the Health Education and Advocacy Unit.

  (2)

    (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a complaint filed with the Commission is a public record and is subject to reasonable inspection.

    (ii) The Commission shall deny inspection of the complainant's name, address, or any other personal identifying information.

  (3) The filing of a complaint under this subsection does not prevent an individual from:

    (i) Exercising any right or seeking any remedy to which the individual may otherwise be entitled; or

    (ii) Filing a complaint with any other agency or a court.

(b)

  (1) The remedies authorized under this section are in addition to any other statutory, legal, or equitable remedies that may be available and are not intended to be a prerequisite to, or exclusive of, any other remedy.

  (2) An individual or a governmental unit is not required to exhaust the administrative remedy authorized under this subtitle before filing suit.

(c)

  (1) A waiver by any patient or other individual of any protection provided by Sec. 19-214.1, Sec. 19-214.2, or Sec. 19-214.4 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle is null and void as being against the public policy of the State.

  (2) Except as prohibited by federal law, a provision in a hospital's financial assistance policy or agreement between the patient and a hospital that waives any substantive or procedural right or remedy related to conduct prohibited by Sec. 19-214.1, Sec. 19-214.2, or Sec. 19-214.4 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle is null and void as being against the public policy of the State.

(d)

  (1) If a hospital knowingly violates any provision of Sec. 19-214.1 or Sec. 19-214.2 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle, the Commission may impose a fine not to exceed $50,000 per violation.

  (2) Before imposing a fine, the Commission shall consider the appropriateness of the fine in relation to the severity of the violation.

  (3) A violation by a hospital or an outside collection agency of Sec. 19-214.1 or Sec. 19-214.2 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle is an unfair, abusive, and deceptive trade practice under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.

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Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)