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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="19-389" title_number="19" title_name="Health Care Facilities" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Hospitals and Related Institutions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department shall ensure that a pediatric hospital overstay patient is transferred to and treated in the least restrictive setting when clinically indicated and when possible.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department of Human Services, in coordination with the Department, shall ensure that a pediatric hospital overstay patient who is a child committed to the care and custody of the Department of Human Services is transferred to and treated in the least restrictive setting when clinically indicated and when possible.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If a pediatric hospital overstay patient remains in the hospital for more than 48 hours and the registry established under § 7.5–802 of this article indicates that an appropriate inpatient bed is available, the hospital shall seek the transfer to maintain the clinical stability of the patient.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to ensure that a pediatric hospital overstay patient is treated in the least restrictive setting, a hospital may concurrently explore in–State and out–of–state placement options.</text>
  </level>
</section>
