In this subtitle, “Program” means the Consumer Education and Advocacy Program.

There is a Consumer Education and Advocacy Program. The Commissioner may use the Consumer Affairs Unit of the Administration to carry out the Program.

The purposes of the Program include: providing information and helping consumers with the procedures for filing a complaint with the Commissioner against any person regulated by this article; on request, giving information about an insurer to the extent that the information lawfully is disclosable; and developing an information and assistance system to provide information about and to help consumers with: personal insurance coverages, including health insurance and life insurance coverages; underwriting practices; general rating concepts; claim procedures of insurers; and any other relevant services.

The Administration shall serve as the single point of entry for consumers to access any and all information regarding health insurance and the delivery of health care as it relates to health insurance, including information prepared or collected by: the Maryland Department of Health; the Maryland Health Care Commission; the Health Services Cost Review Commission; the Department of Aging; and the Health Education and Advocacy Unit of the Attorney General’s office. The Administration, in cooperation with the entities listed in subsection (a) of this section and any other person it deems appropriate, shall promote the availability of the information. The Maryland Health Care Commission shall assist the Administration in presenting the information in a format that is easily understandable for consumers. Implementation of this section by the Administration shall be funded through the Health Care Regulatory Fund established under § 2–112.3 of this title.

The Administration shall prepare annually a comparison guide of medical professional liability insurance premiums. The comparison guide shall: list each insurer authorized to provide medical professional liability insurance in the State; include, for each specialty and territory, the base premium charged by an insurer for physicians with policy limits of $1,000,000 and $3,000,000; and include the base premium charged by an insurer for a: hospital; medical day care center; hospice care program; assisted living program; and freestanding ambulatory care facility as defined in § 19–3B–01 of the Health – General Article. The Administration shall publish the comparison guide required under subsection (a) of this section on its Web site and in printed form.

To carry out the Program, the Commissioner may employ a staff in accordance with the State budget. The Commissioner may designate a member of the staff of the Program to represent the interests of consumers in any Administration proceeding that is open to the public, including: an informational hearing; and a hearing or review of insurance rates or forms.

The Commissioner may adopt regulations to carry out the Program. Each year, the Commissioner shall evaluate the Program.