# Health - General (GHG)

## Title 24. Miscellaneous Provisions

### Subtitle 27

#### Section 24-2701

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)

  (1) "Health care facility" means a facility or an office where health care is provided to patients by a health care practitioner or group of health care practitioners licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by law to provide health care services.

  (2) "Health care facility" includes:

    (i) A hospital, as defined in Sec. 19-301 of this article;

    (ii) A freestanding medical facility, as defined in Sec. 19-3A-01 of this article;

    (iii) A nursing facility;

    (iv) A residential treatment center;

    (v) A rehabilitation facility; and

    (vi) A facility operated by the Department, the Behavioral Health Administration, or a health officer.

(c) "Service member" has the meaning stated in Sec. 9-901 of the State Government Article.

(d) "Service member community member" means:

  (1) A service member;

  (2) A veteran;

  (3) The spouse of a service member or veteran;

  (4) A child of a service member or veteran; or

  (5) A stepchild of a service member or veteran.

(e) "Veteran" has the meaning stated in Sec. 9-901 of the State Government Article.

#### Section 24-2702

(a) Each health care facility may screen each patient for information on the patient's eligibility as a service member community member and include in the patient's medical record whether the patient is a service member community member.

(b) For the purpose of improving health care equity for service member community members, each health care facility may identify service member community members as a vulnerable population and comply with the standards associated with the National Patient Safety Goal to Improve Health Care Equity established by The Joint Commission.

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