<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".23" citation="COMAR 10.67.04.23" title_num="10" subtitle_num="67" chapter_num="04" heading="Marketing.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>An MCO may not have face-to-face or telephone contact with a recipient, or otherwise solicit a recipient who is not an enrollee of the MCO, unless authorized by the Department or the recipient initiates the contact.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Subject to prior approval by the Department, an MCO may engage in marketing activities designed to make recipients aware of their availability, as well as any special services they offer. Unless they involve face-to-face solicitation, these marketing activities may involve campaigns using but not limited to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Television;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Radio;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Newspaper;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Informational booths at public events;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Billboards and other public displays;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Addressee-blind informational mailings, but only when mailed to the MCO's entire service area;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Magazines;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Airborne marketing displays; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Public conveyances.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>An MCO may not engage in any cold call marketing, including activities using or involving any of the following mechanisms:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Direct marketing;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Telephone solicitation;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Door to door flyers;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Email;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Texting;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Material or financial incentives of any kind, with the exception of advertising trinkets such as balloons or pens that have an acquisition cost of $5 or less; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Influencing enrollment in conjunction with the sale or offer of private insurance.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Standards for Departmental Approval of MCO Advertising.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>MCO advertising shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be based on documented fact;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Identify all telephone numbers used that do not belong to the MCOs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Include the statement, “'HealthChoice' is a program of the Maryland Department of Health”; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Be at a fifth grade reading level.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>MCO advertising may not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be false or misleading;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Ascribe to the MCO unique coverage or services that are otherwise required by State or federal law or regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Assert that a recipient shall enroll in the MCO in order to obtain benefits or in order not to lose benefits; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Assert that the MCO is endorsed by CMS, the federal or State government or similar entity.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>