# Health - General (GHG)

## Title 19. Health Care Facilities

### Subtitle 3. Hospitals and Related Institutions

#### Section 19-319.2

(a) In this section, "facility" means a special psychiatric hospital or an acute general care hospital with separately identified inpatient psychiatric service.

(b)

  (1) As a condition of licensure, each facility shall adopt written policies and procedures to implement the requirements of Sec.Sec. 10-701 through 10-709 of this article. The policies and procedures:

    (i) May expand the rights provided in Sec.Sec. 10-701 through 10-709 of this article;

    (ii) Shall provide for a mechanism for patients and others to report suspected violations of Sec.Sec. 10-701 through 10-709 of this article to a designated official of the hospital;

    (iii) Shall provide a system for investigating suspected violations; and

    (iv) Shall ensure that there is a timely appropriate response to any suspected violation.

  (2) The Secretary may inspect any document necessary to ensure compliance with this subsection and Sec.Sec. 10-701 through 10-709 of this article.

  (3) If a hospital that is a facility fails to adopt and implement the policies and procedures required by this subsection or maintains a continuing pattern of conditions or practices in knowing violation of Sec.Sec. 10-701 through 10-709 of this article, the Secretary may impose the following penalties, but only after the Secretary has satisfied the conditions in Sec. 19-360 of this subtitle:

    (i) Delicensure of the specialty psychiatric hospital;

    (ii) Delicensure of the separately identified psychiatric service of the acute general care hospital; or

    (iii) A fine not to exceed $500 per day for each day the violation continues.

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