A county or municipality may establish a hospital or other facility for the care of the sick by:
building or contracting for the use of a facility; or
joining with another county or municipality to establish a joint facility.
A county or municipality may recover the expenses incurred by a hospital or another facility in caring for a patient who is not indigent:
from the patient, within 3 years after the patient is discharged from the facility; or
from the estate of the patient, if the patient dies in the facility.
A hospital, as defined in § 19–301 of the Health – General Article, that is operated by a political subdivision may accept a valid credit card as payment for a bill.
In this part, “board” means a citizens nursing home board.
The county commissioners or county council of a county may establish a citizens nursing home board.
Except as provided in subsection (d)(1) of this section, a board consists of 10 members.
The county commissioners, the county council of the county, or, subject to the confirmation of the Frederick County Council, the County Executive of Frederick County shall appoint the initial members of the board for the following terms:
three members for 3 years;
three members for 2 years; and
three members for 1 year.
The county commissioners, the county council, or, subject to the confirmation of the Frederick County Council, the County Executive of Frederick County shall appoint one of its members to be an ex officio member of the board.
Each member of the board shall be a resident of the county.
Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d)(3) of this section, a successor member shall be elected by a majority vote of the board for:
a term of 3 years if a term expires; or
the rest of the term if a term is vacated.
Subject to the confirmation of the Frederick County Council, the Chief Executive of Frederick County shall appoint a successor member for:
a term of 3 years if a term expires; or
the rest of the term if a term is vacated.
In St. Mary’s County, the board consists of at least 10 but not more than 15 members.
Subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may create new positions on the board.
The county commissioners shall set the term for each new position to:
3 years or less; and
ensure balanced staggering of the expiration of the terms of all members.
The county commissioners shall appoint a successor member for:
a term of 3 years if a term expires; or
the rest of the term if a term is vacated.
The board shall elect a chair from among its members.
The board shall determine the term of office of the chair.
The board shall meet at least once a month to conduct its business.
A member of the board serves without compensation.
The board shall establish, maintain, and operate a nursing home or other facility or service for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals.
The board has the following powers and duties:
to accept gifts, legacies, bequests, or endowments for purposes of the board; and
unless otherwise specified by the donor, in the discretion of the board, to spend both principal and income of a gift, legacy, bequest, or endowment for the purposes of the board;
to acquire and hold property in the name of the county commissioners or county council of the county;
to preserve and administer property acquired by the board; and
to sell or otherwise dispose of property acquired by the board;
to provide adequate facilities and services for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals, including:
physical care;
medical care;
nursing care;
recreational services;
rehabilitative services;
special education; and
dissemination of information relating to causes and prevention of chronic and debilitating illnesses;
subject to item (ii) of this item, to charge fees for admission to and maintenance in a facility and for services provided; and
to charge fees to indigent individuals in direct proportion to the individual’s ability to pay;
to apply to the purposes of the board all money, assets, or property the board receives;
to adopt rules and regulations for the board’s facilities and services;
to cooperate with and assist, as much as practicable, any unit of the State, the United States, any subdivision of either, or any person;
to hire a director of any facility or service and to provide for additional employees and the qualifications and wages of the employees;
to require any facility or service to maintain standards to qualify for a license as a hospital under Title 19, Subtitle 3, Part III of the Health – General Article; and
to integrate each of the board’s facilities with those of the Secretary of Health.
The board shall adopt rules to govern its operations.
As much as possible, the activities of the board shall be supported by the public, voluntary contributions, fees and charges, and payments from the State and federal government.
To maintain an adequate level of medical and nursing care for aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals, the county commissioners or county council of a county may:
make annual appropriations to support the operations of the board; and
make appropriations or borrow funds for land acquisition and capital improvements and issue bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness.
The board shall report annually to the county commissioners or county council of the county on the activities of the board during the preceding year, including any recommendations or requests the board considers appropriate to achieve the objectives and purposes of this part.
In addition to the authority provided in this part, the governing body of Frederick County may establish, maintain, and operate a nursing home or other facility or service for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals in Frederick County.
The county commissioners or county council of a county may cooperate, consistent with this subtitle, for the construction or reconstruction of hospitals or related facilities by contributing up to one–third of the cost of any hospital or related facility.
To pay the county contribution under this subsection, the county commissioners or county council may:
use general fund revenues of the county; or
within the limits of any restriction on the borrowing power of the county, issue bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness, pledging the full faith and credit of the county to the payment of principal of and interest on the bonds, notes, or evidence of indebtedness.
For the purposes of this subsection, the Secretary of Health, as the sole unit to represent the State, shall cooperate with the county.
The County Commissioners of Kent County may cooperate, consistent with this subtitle, for the construction of a nursing home or related facilities by contributing up to one–third of the cost of the nursing home or related facilities.
A nursing home constructed under this subsection shall have at least 25 beds.
To pay the county contribution under this subsection, the county commissioners may:
use general fund revenues of the county; or
within the limits of any restriction on the borrowing power of the county, issue bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness, pledging the full faith and credit of the county to the payment of principal of and interest on the bonds, notes, or evidence of indebtedness.
For the purposes of this subsection, the Secretary of Health, as the sole unit to represent the State, shall cooperate with the county commissioners.
The County Commissioners of Somerset County shall cooperate, consistent with this subtitle, for the construction of a nursing home hospital or related facilities by contributing up to $200,000 of the cost of any nursing home hospital or related facilities.
A nursing home hospital constructed under this subsection shall:
have 60 beds;
be located in the town of Crisfield, on the same grounds as McCready Hospital;
have a corridor connecting it to McCready Hospital; and
be known as the Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home.
To pay the county contribution under this subsection, the county commissioners may:
use general fund revenues of the county; or
within the limits of any restriction on the borrowing power of the county, issue bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness, pledging the full faith and credit of the county to the payment of principal of and interest on the bonds, notes, or evidence of indebtedness.