The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate the implementation of the Maryland Asthma Control Program, to the extent allowed by available funding, by providing guidelines for the administration of the Asthma Coalition in its advisory capacity to the Program. This chapter also authorizes the Maryland Asthma Control Program to obtain asthma-related data through an asthma data surveillance system. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Asthma data surveillance” means the ongoing and systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of asthma-related information for the purposes of planning, implementing, and evaluating public health interventions to: Prevent asthma; Improve asthma health outcomes, including rates of asthma-related emergency department admissions, hospital admissions, and mortality; and Decrease health disparities associated with asthma. “Coalition” means the Maryland Statewide Asthma Coalition established by the Director of the Asthma Control Program under Health-General Article, §13-1704, Annotated Code of Maryland. “Department” means the Maryland Department of Health. “Local asthma coalition” means an alliance of individuals representing personal or organizational interests whose purpose is to reduce asthma prevalence, severity, and health disparities within a particular region or jurisdiction in Maryland. “Maryland Asthma Plan” means a comprehensive strategy that provides cohesive direction, objectives, strategies, and action steps for the Coalition to use in addressing asthma in Maryland. “Program” means the Maryland Asthma Control Program, which is established under Health-General Article, §13-1702, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Maryland Statewide Asthma Coalition is established. The Coalition consists of members recruited by the Director of the Maryland Asthma Control Program from each of the following organizations: The Department; The American Lung Association of Maryland; The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Maryland-Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter; The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; The University of Maryland, School of Medicine; Representatives from local health departments or local asthma coalitions; Professional health care provider organizations; Other State agencies with expertise or an interest in asthma; and Any other interested professional and community groups with asthma expertise. The members of the Coalition who are present at a meeting are a quorum to do business provided that at least eight members including one co-chair attend the meeting. The Coalition shall meet at least twice per year, at the times and places that a co-chair determines. A member of the Coalition: May not receive State-funded compensation; and Is not entitled to State-funded reimbursement for travel or other expenses related to serving as a Coalition member. Coalition Co-Chairs. The Program Director or the Director's designee shall serve as a co-chair of the Coalition and designate the Program staff necessary to carry out this chapter. The other co-chair shall be selected by a majority vote of a quorum of the Coalition. The Coalition shall provide assistance to the Department in the development and implementation of the Program by: Advising the Department on asthma-related matters, including establishing priorities within the Maryland Asthma Plan, through maintaining and sharing expertise on asthma issues; Facilitating communication and networking opportunities, especially through local coalitions, groups with shared interest, and other State coalitions; Increasing asthma awareness throughout the State; and Monitoring progress in achieving the goals established within the Maryland Asthma Plan. The Program shall establish a State asthma data surveillance system that has the authority to access and request the submission of data related to asthma, including the submission of a uniform data set and any confidential, patient-identifying data, or information from the following sources: Vital Statistics Administration; Maryland Health Care Commission; Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS); Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission; Maryland Medical Assistance Program; and Other data sources, as necessary. A health care provider or facility shall release confidential patient-identifying data or information to the Program in accordance with this chapter. Any identifying data or information that the Program receives under §A or B of this regulation is confidential and may be used only for public health surveillance purposes. A health care provider or facility may not be held liable for releasing data or other information to the Program in accordance with this regulation. Except for confidential, patient-identifying medical information, the Program may publish and disseminate data or information that relates to the incidence, severity, or cost of asthma or related conditions if the Program considers the publication beneficial and in the public's interest. However, before the data or information relating to asthma is published or disseminated, the Program shall consult with any person or entity that is the source of the data the Program intends to use. The Program and the person or entity shall agree upon the manner in which the data is published or disseminated. Health-General Article, §§13-1701—13-1706, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: July 31, 2006 (33:15 Md. R. 1281)