A party or a party's representative may not communicate ex parte with members of the EMS Board or an administrative law judge regarding the merits of any issue in the hearing. Members of the EMS Board may communicate with: MIEMSS staff or the Office of Administrative Hearings staff who otherwise do not participate in the contested case; or Any counsel for the EMS Board who otherwise does not participate in the contested case. Actions taken by the EMS Board or an administrative law judge following an ex parte communication shall be governed by State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland.