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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 10.07.01.13" title_num="10" subtitle_num="07" chapter_num="01" heading="Utilization Review Plan.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Before October 1, 1985, each hospital shall submit a proposed utilization review plan to the Secretary.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Effective October 1, 1985, each hospital shall have in effect a utilization review plan approved by the Secretary pursuant to this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The purpose of the hospital's utilization review program, as defined by the plan, shall be to determine for patients included in the hospital's review responsibilities the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Reasonableness and medical necessity of care given or proposed to be given at the hospital;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Quality of care given at the hospital; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Appropriateness of the level of care proposed or given, including whether the care could be or could have been provided appropriately and more economically on an outpatient basis or in a facility that provides a lower level of care.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A utilization review plan shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Identify the designated utilization review agent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Describe the criteria to be used in evaluating proposed or delivered hospital care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Delineate the types and kinds of cases that the agent will review and the circumstances under which either some or all patients in the hospital, or within specific diagnostic groups, will be selected;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Make provisions for the collecting, storing, and reporting of data;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Define measures by which the agent can evaluate the effectiveness of its program;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Make provisions for screening medical records pertaining to patients for which the agent has review responsibility in order to identify and verify problems in the quality of care;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Establish a mechanism through which patients, physicians, or third-party payers may seek reconsideration of decisions made by the utilization review agent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Detail how each of the following elements is to be performed by the agent:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Pre-admission review of elective admissions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Post-admission review of nonelective admissions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Concurrent or retrospective review of admissions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Pre-authorization of certain selected procedures proposed to be performed on an inpatient basis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Institution of an objective second surgical opinion protocol to evaluate the desirability of performing selected surgical procedures on an elective basis;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Discharge planning review;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Continued stay review; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Re-admission review;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Meet all other requirements for utilization review promulgated by the Secretary.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>