<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 10.37.03.09" title_num="10" subtitle_num="37" chapter_num="03" heading="Rates for Non-Physician Services Provided to Hospital Inpatients by Third-Party Contractors.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A non-physician inpatient service is defined as a hospital service under the jurisdiction of the Commission provided by a third-party contractor to a hospital inpatient off-site of the hospital. The charge for this service shall be billed by the hospital.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The allowable rate shall be equal to or less than the Statewide median or price standard as developed by staff.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The same rate on average shall be charged to all inpatients, regardless of payor.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>The sum of the rate charged to a hospital inpatient and the professional component, if any, on average, shall be not greater than that charged on average by the third-party contractor to its other patients for the sum of both components of the same service.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The hospital shall provide an audit by an independent CPA that the contractor is in compliance with Sec. D of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The hospital shall be at risk for any payment made to a contractor in excess of the allowable charge determined in accordance with Sec. B of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>The Commission shall waive COMAR 10.37.10.07A, which requires a rate application be filed at least 60 days before the opening of a new service, for rate applications approved under this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>The sections of this regulation are nonseverable and the entire regulation shall be null and void 60 days after a Court of competent jurisdiction rules that any portion or section of this regulation is beyond the jurisdiction of the Commission.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>