In this subtitle, “Commission” means the Maryland Emergency Department Wait Time Reduction Commission.

There is a Maryland Emergency Department Wait Time Reduction Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to address factors throughout the health care system that contribute to increased emergency department wait times. The Commission consists of the following members: The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Health Care Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee; and The following members, appointed by the Secretary: Two individuals who have operations leadership responsibilities over a hospital emergency department in the State, including one emergency department physician; One individual with professional experience in an emergency department who is not a physician or an advanced practice provider, such as a nurse or care manager; One representative of a local emergency medical service; One representative of a managed care plan with experience in care management or care coordination; One representative of an advanced primary care practice; One representative of the Maryland Hospital Association; One representative of a patient advocacy organization; and One representative of a behavioral health provider. The Secretary of Health and the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission shall cochair the Commission. The Health Services Cost Review Commission shall provide staff for the Commission. A member of the Commission: May not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

The Commission shall develop strategies and initiatives to recommend to State and local agencies, hospitals, and health care providers to reduce emergency department wait times, including: Initiatives that: Ensure that patients are seen in the most appropriate setting to reduce unnecessary use of emergency departments; Improve hospital efficiency, including by increasing emergency department and inpatient throughput; and Improve postdischarge resources to facilitate timely emergency department and inpatient discharges; By identifying and recommending improvements for the collection and submission of data that is necessary to monitor and reduce emergency department wait times; By making recommendations to State and local agencies, hospitals, and health care providers; and By facilitating the sharing of best practices for reducing emergency department wait times.

In carrying out its duties, the Commission may: Recommend that State and local agencies, hospitals, and health care providers implement the strategies and initiatives developed under § 20–2403 of this subtitle; Request interviews with State and local officials; Request data from: The Department; The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems; The Health Services Cost Review Commission; The Maryland Health Care Commission; The State–designated health information exchange; Hospitals in the State; Other providers of health care services; and Payors for health care services; and Create advisory workgroups that do not include members of the Commission.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an entity that receives a request for data under § 20–2404 of this subtitle shall: For data that does not contain personally identifiable information, promptly transmit the data to the staff of the Commission provided by the Health Services Cost Review Commission; and For data that contains personally identifiable information: Promptly enter into an appropriate data sharing and use agreement with the Health Services Cost Review Commission; and On the approval of an appropriate agreement by the parties, promptly transmit the data, through a secure and encrypted manner, to the staff of the Commission provided by the Health Services Cost Review Commission. If an entity that receives a data request under § 20–2404 of this subtitle is prohibited from sharing the data under federal law, the Commission may not require the submission of the data. The Commission may use personally identifiable information requested under § 20–2404 of this subtitle only for the purpose of meeting the requirements of § 20–2403 of this subtitle and completing the reports required under § 20–2406 of this subtitle. Personally identifiable information submitted under subsection (a)(2) of this section may not be shared with: A member of the Commission who is not an employee of the Health Services Cost Review Commission; or Any other person that is not a party to the data sharing and use agreement for the information. Commission staff shall: Analyze personally identifiable information shared with the Commission staff; and Share the findings of the analysis with the members of the Commission in a manner that does not reveal personally identifiable information.

On or before November 1 each year, beginning in 2025, the Commission shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly a report on its activities and its findings and recommendations, including an update on the development, implementation, and impact of the recommended policies and programs developed to improve emergency department wait times.