reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 13 - Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Health Care Professionals › Section 20-1301 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Cultural and linguistic competency” means cultural and linguistic abilities that can be incorporated into therapeutic and medical evaluation and treatment, including:
(1)    Direct communication in the patient’s primary language;
(2)    Understanding and applying the roles that culture, ethnicity, and race play in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care; and
(3)    Awareness of how the attitudes, values, and beliefs of health care providers and patients influence and impact professional and patient relations.
(c)    “Health care professional” includes a physician, nurse, dentist, social worker, psychologist, pharmacist, health educator, or other allied health professional.
(d)    “Implicit bias” means a bias in judgment that results from subtle cognitive processes, including the following prejudices and stereotypes that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control:
(1)    Prejudicial negative feelings or beliefs about a group that an individual holds without being aware of the feelings or beliefs; and
(2)    Unconscious attributions of particular qualities to a member of a specific social group that are influenced by experience and based on learned associations between various qualities and social categories, including race and gender.
(e)    “Program” means the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 13 - Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Health Care Professionals › Section 20-1302 - Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program

(a)    There is a Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program.
(b)    The purpose of the Program is to:
(1)    Provide for a voluntary program in which educational classes are offered to health care professionals to teach health care professionals:
(i)    Methods to improve the health care professionals’ cultural and linguistic competency to communicate with non–English speaking patients and patients from other cultures who are English speaking;
(ii)    Cultural beliefs and practices that may impact patient health care practices and allow health care professionals to incorporate the knowledge of the beliefs and practices in the diagnosis and treatment of patients; and
(iii)    Methods to enable health care professionals to increase the health literacy of their patients to improve the patient’s ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health care decisions; and
(2)    Establish and provide an evidence–based implicit bias training program for health care professionals involved in the perinatal care of patients under § 20–1305 of this subtitle; and
(3)    Identify and approve implicit bias training programs for health occupation licensure and certification under § 1–225 of the Health Occupations Article.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 13 - Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Health Care Professionals › Section 20-1303 - Training Programs

The Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, the State Medical Society, the Maryland Nurses Association, the Maryland State Dental Association, the National Association of Social Workers – Maryland Chapter, the Maryland Clinical Social Work Coalition, the Maryland Psychological Association, the Maryland Pharmacists Association, or any other health professional association or public health entity in the State is encouraged to identify training programs, or, if feasible, to develop or collaborate in the development of training programs, that:
(1)    Address ethnic language or racial groups of interest to the health care professional members;
(2)    Are based on the established knowledge of health care professionals serving target populations;
(3)    Are developed in collaboration with the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities; and
(4)    Include standards that identify the degree of competency for participants to qualify for completion of a program.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 13 - Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Health Care Professionals › Section 20-1304 - Recognition of Training

(a)    The Maryland Department of Health shall develop a method through which the appropriate professional licensing board recognizes the training received by health care professionals under this subtitle, either through continuing education credits or otherwise.
(b)    The Program shall provide a certificate of training completion for any individual who completes the training established under § 20–1305 of this subtitle, and to a facility on request.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 13 - Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Health Care Professionals › Section 20-1305 - Implicit Bias Training Program -- Recurring Training

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)    “Perinatal care” means the provision of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum and neonatal periods.
(3)    “Perinatal care facility” includes:
(i)    A hospital, as defined in § 19–301 of this article, that provides perinatal care; and
(ii)    A freestanding birthing center, as defined in § 19–3B–01 of this article.
(b)    (1)    On or before January 1, 2021, the Program shall establish an evidence–based implicit bias training program for all health care professionals involved in the perinatal care of patients in a perinatal care facility.
(2)    (i)    The Program shall establish the implicit bias program required under paragraph (1) of this subsection using best practices in implicit bias training.
(ii)    The implicit bias program required under paragraph (1) of this subsection may include best practices used in other states.
(c)    On or before January 1, 2022, and once every 2 years thereafter or more frequently, as determined by the perinatal care facility, a health care professional who is an employee of, and involved in the perinatal care of patients at, a perinatal care facility shall complete the training established under subsection (b) of this section.
(d)    The Program shall offer the training established under subsection (b) of this section to any health care professional involved in perinatal care of patients at a perinatal care facility who is not required to complete the training under subsection (c) of this section because the health care professional is not an employee of a perinatal care facility.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 13 - Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Health Care Professionals › Section 20-1306 - Identification and Approval of Implicit Bias Training Programs -- List of Approved Training Programs

(a)    (1)    The Program shall, in coordination with the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, identify and approve implicit bias training programs that an individual may complete to satisfy the requirements of § 1–225 of the Health Occupations Article.
(2)    The Program may approve only implicit bias training programs under paragraph (1) of this subsection that are recognized by a health occupations board established under the Health Occupations Article or accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
(b)    The Program shall provide a list of training programs approved under subsection (a) of this section on request.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 14 - Health Equity Resource Communities › Section 20-1401 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Advisory Committee” means the Health Equity Resource Community Advisory Committee.
(c)    “Commission” means the Community Health Resources Commission.
(d)    “Community health worker” has the meaning stated in § 13–3701 of this article.
(e)    “Federally qualified health center” has the meaning stated in § 24–1301 of this article.
(f)    “Fund” means the Health Equity Resource Community Reserve Fund established under § 20–1407 of this subtitle.
(g)    “Health care practitioner” means an individual or, collectively, a group of individuals working together within the same practice, each of whom is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by law to provide health care services under the Health Occupations Article.
(h)    “Health disparity” means a particular type of health difference, such as a difference in rates of hypertension, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, substance abuse, mental health disorders, and maternal and infant mortality, that:
(1)    Is closely linked with social, economic, or environmental disadvantage; and
(2)    Adversely affects groups of individuals who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health care based on their:
(i)    Race or ethnicity;
(ii)    Religion;
(iii)    Socioeconomic status;
(iv)    Gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation;
(v)    Age;
(vi)    Mental health status;
(vii)    Cognitive, sensory, or physical disability;
(viii)    Geographic location; or
(ix)    Other characteristic historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.
(i)    “Health Equity Resource Community” means a contiguous geographic area that:
(1)    Demonstrates measurable and documented health disparities and poor health outcomes;
(2)    Is small enough to allow for the incentives offered under this subtitle to have a significant impact on improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities, including racial, ethnic, geographic, and disability related health disparities;
(3)    Is designated by the  Commission in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle; and
(4)    Has a minimum population of 5,000 residents.
(j)    “Hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19–301 of this article.
(k)    “Institution of higher education” has the meaning stated in § 10–101 of the Education Article.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 14 - Health Equity Resource Communities › Section 20-1402 - Targeting State Resources -- Regulations Governing the Allocation of Resources -- Additional Staff

(a)    The purpose of establishing Health Equity Resource Communities is to target State resources to specific areas of the State to:
(1)    Reduce health disparities;
(2)    Improve health outcomes;
(3)    Improve access to primary care;
(4)    Promote primary and secondary prevention services; and
(5)    Reduce health care costs and hospital admissions and readmissions.
(b)    (1)    The Commission may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this subtitle and to specify eligibility criteria and application, approval, and monitoring processes for the resources allocated under this subtitle.
(2)    (i)    The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities and the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) shall provide technical assistance to the Commission in implementing the provisions of this subtitle.
(ii)    At the request of the Commission, any other unit in the Department shall provide technical assistance to the Commission in implementing the provisions of this subtitle.
(c)    Two additional staff shall be added to the Commission to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 14 - Health Equity Resource Communities › Section 20-1406 - Loan Repayment Assistance -- Grants for Capital or Leasehold Improvement

(a)    Health care practitioners and community health workers that practice in a Health Equity Resource Community may receive loan repayment assistance, as provided for in the application for designation for the Health Equity Resource Community and approved by the Commission under this subtitle.
(b)    (1)    A health care practitioner or community health worker may apply to the Commission for a grant to defray the costs of capital or leasehold improvements to, or medical or dental equipment to be used in, a Health Equity Resource Community.
(2)    To qualify for a grant under paragraph (1) of this subsection, a health care practitioner or a community health worker shall:
(i)    Own or lease the health care facility; and
(ii)    Provide health care from that facility.
(3)    (i)    A grant to defray the cost of medical or dental equipment may not exceed the lesser of $25,000 or 50% of the cost of the equipment.
(ii)    Grants for capital or leasehold improvements shall be for the purposes of improving or expanding the delivery of health care in the Health Equity Resource Community.
(c)    (1)    A nonprofit community–based organization, a nonprofit hospital, an institution of higher education, a federally qualified health center, or a local government agency that receives approval of an application submitted under § 20–1403 of this subtitle may submit an application, on its own behalf, to receive grants for capital or leasehold improvements, as determined by the Commission, for the purposes described under subsection (b)(3)(ii) of this section.
(2)    Subject to § 20–1408(a)(2) of this subtitle, the term of any grant awarded to a nonprofit community–based organization, a nonprofit hospital, an institution of higher education, a federally qualified health center, or a local government agency for capital or leasehold improvements shall have a term of 5 years, and may be renewed in accordance with an application approved by the Commission.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 14 - Health Equity Resource Communities › Section 20-1408 - Report Submitted by Successful Applicant -- Annual Report

(a)    (1)    Each nonprofit community–based organization, nonprofit hospital, institution of higher education, federally qualified health center, or local government agency that has submitted a successful application for designation of an area as a Health Equity Resource Community under § 20–1403 of this subtitle shall submit to the Commission a report that includes:
(i)    A description of progress made toward the objectives set forth in the application;
(ii)    A description of objectives to be met during the immediately following year; and
(iii)    Any other information as requested by the Commission.
(2)    The reporting required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be submitted periodically in accordance with a schedule determined by the Commission.
(3)    The Commission may revoke a designation of an area as a Health Equity Resource Community if the nonprofit community–based organization, nonprofit hospital, institution of higher education, federally qualified health center, or local government agency that has submitted a successful application for designation of an area as a Health Equity Resource Community fails to meet the objectives provided to the Commission under subsection (a)(1) of this section for a given year.
(b)    (1)    On or before December 15 each year, the Commission shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly a report that includes:
(i)    The number and types of incentives granted in each Health Equity Resource Community;
(ii)    Evidence of the impact of the loan repayment incentives in attracting health care practitioners and community health workers to Health Equity Resource Communities;
(iii)    Evidence of the impact of the incentives offered in Health Equity Resource Communities in reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes; and
(iv)    Evidence of the progress in reducing health costs and hospital admissions and readmissions in Health Equity Resource Communities.
(2)    The report described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall include data disaggregated by the following:
(i)    Race;
(ii)    Ethnicity;
(iii)    Primary language;
(iv)    Gender;
(v)    Socioeconomic status; and
(vi)    Zip code.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 15 - Down Syndrome Information › Section 20-1501 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Down syndrome” means a chromosomal condition caused by an error in cell division that results in the presence of an extra whole or partial copy of chromosome 21.
(c)    (1)    “Health care facility” means a facility or an office where health or medical care is provided to patients by a health care provider.
(2)    “Health care facility” includes a hospital and a limited service hospital.
(d)    (1)    “Health care provider” means a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article to provide health or medical care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.
(2)    “Health care provider” includes a genetic counselor.
(e)    “Hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19–301 of this article.
(f)    “Limited service hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19–301 of this article.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 15 - Down Syndrome Information › Section 20-1502 - General Consideration

(a)    The Department shall identify up–to–date, evidence–based, written information about Down syndrome that:
(1)    Has been reviewed by medical experts and national and local Down syndrome organizations;
(2)    Is designed for use by an expectant parent who receives a prenatal test result for Down syndrome or a parent of a child who receives a diagnosis of Down syndrome;
(3)    Is culturally and linguistically appropriate for potential recipients of the information; and
(4)    Includes:
(i)    Information addressing physical, developmental, educational, and psychosocial outcomes, life expectancy, clinical course, and intellectual and functional development and treatment options for individuals with Down syndrome; and
(ii)    Contact information for national and local Down syndrome education and support programs and services, including information hotlines, resource centers, and clearinghouses.
(b)    The Department shall:
(1)    Provide the information identified by the Department under subsection (a) of this section to health care facilities and health care providers that provide prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling to expectant parents who receive a prenatal test result for Down syndrome and parents of a child diagnosed with Down syndrome; and
(2)    Make available the information identified by the Department under subsection (a) of this section on the Department’s website.
(c)    (1)    On receipt of a positive test result from a test for Down syndrome, a health care facility or health care provider may provide to the expectant parent who receives a prenatal test result for Down syndrome or the parent of the child diagnosed with Down syndrome the written information provided or made available by the Department under subsection (b) of this section.
(2)    The information provided under this subsection shall be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the recipient of the information.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 16 - Nondiscrimination in Access to Anatomical Gifts and Organ Transplantation › Section 20-1603 - Legislative Findings

The General Assembly finds that:
(1)    A mental or physical disability does not diminish an individual’s right to health care;
(2)    The federal Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, yet many individuals with disabilities still experience discrimination in accessing critical health care services;
(3)    In other states nationwide, individuals with mental and physical disabilities have historically been denied life–saving organ transplants based on assumptions that their lives are less worthy, that they are incapable of complying with posttransplantation medical requirements, or that they lack adequate support systems to ensure compliance with posttransplantation medical requirements;
(4)    Although organ transplant centers must consider medical and psychosocial criteria when determining if a patient is suitable to receive an organ transplant, transplant centers that participate in Medicare, the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, and other federally funded programs are required to use patient selection criteria that result in a fair and nondiscriminatory distribution of organs; and
(5)    State residents in need of organ transplants are entitled to assurances that they will not encounter discrimination on the basis of a disability.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 16 - Nondiscrimination in Access to Anatomical Gifts and Organ Transplantation › Section 20-1605 - General Consideration

(a)    A covered entity may not solely on the basis of an individual’s disability:
(1)    Consider a qualified individual ineligible to receive an anatomical gift or organ transplant;
(2)    Deny medical and other services related to organ transplantation, including evaluation, surgery, counseling, and posttransplantation treatment and services;
(3)    Refuse to refer the individual to a transplant center or a related specialist for the purpose of evaluation or receipt of an organ transplant;
(4)    Refuse to place a qualified individual on an organ transplant waiting list; or
(5)    Place a qualified individual at a lower–priority position on an organ transplant waiting list than the position at which the qualified individual would have been placed if not for the disability.
(b)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a covered entity may take an individual’s disability into account when making treatment or coverage recommendations or decisions, solely to the extent that the disability has been found by a physician, following an individualized evaluation of the individual, to be medically significant to the provision of the anatomical gift.
(2)    If an individual has the necessary support system to assist the individual in complying with posttransplantation medical requirements, a covered entity may not consider the individual’s inability to independently comply with the posttransplantation medical requirements to be medically significant for the purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(c)    A covered entity shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures, when the modifications are necessary to  allow an individual with a disability access to services, including transplantation–related counseling, information, coverage, or treatment, unless the covered entity can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the services.
(d)    A covered entity shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that an individual with a disability is not denied services, including transplantation–related counseling, information, coverage, or treatment, due to the absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless the covered entity can demonstrate that taking the steps would fundamentally alter the nature of the services being offered or would result in an undue burden.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 16 - Nondiscrimination in Access to Anatomical Gifts and Organ Transplantation › Section 20-1606 - Judicial Remedies

(a)    If a covered entity violates this subtitle, the affected individual may bring an action in the appropriate circuit court for injunctive or other equitable relief.
(b)    In an action brought under subsection (a) of this section, the circuit court shall:
(1)    Schedule a hearing as soon as possible; and
(2)    Apply the same standards in rendering a judgment in the action as would be applied in an action brought in federal court under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 17 - Lyme Disease Information › Section 20-1701 - General Consideration

(a)    A health care provider licensed in the State who draws the blood of a patient to perform a laboratory test for Lyme disease or a medical laboratory, as defined in § 17–201 of this article, that performs a laboratory test for the presence of Lyme disease shall provide the following written notice to the patient at the time the patient’s blood is drawn:
“Your health care provider has ordered a laboratory test for the presence of Lyme disease for you. Current laboratory testing for Lyme disease can be problematic and standard laboratory tests often result in false negative and false positive results and, if done too early, you may not have produced enough antibodies to be considered positive because your immune response requires time to develop antibodies. If you are tested for Lyme disease and the results are negative, this does not necessarily mean you do not have Lyme disease. If you continue to experience unexplained symptoms, you should contact your health care provider and inquire about the appropriateness of retesting or initial or additional treatment.”.
(b)    If the Department finds significant differences between the content of the notice required by subsection (a) of this section and current medical evidence on Lyme disease testing, the Department may adopt regulations that change the content of the notice.
(c)    The Department shall provide written notice to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee before submitting any proposed regulation under subsection (b) of this section to the Maryland Register for publication.
(d)    The provision by a health care provider or medical laboratory of the notice required by subsection (a) of this section may not be the sole basis for a cause of action.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 18 - Maternal Mental Health › Section 20-1801 - Identification and Dissemination of Information About Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)    (i)    “Health care facility” means a facility or an office where health or medical care is provided to patients by a health care provider.
(ii)    “Health care facility” includes a hospital and a limited service hospital.
(3)    “Health care provider” means a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article to provide health or medical care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.
(4)    “Hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19–301 of this article.
(5)    “Limited service hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19–301 of this article.
(b)    The Department, in consultation with stakeholders, shall identify up–to–date, evidence–based, written information about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that:
(1)    Has been reviewed by medical experts and national and local organizations specializing in maternal mental health;
(2)    Is designed for use by health care providers and pregnant and postpartum women and their families;
(3)    Is culturally and linguistically appropriate for potential recipients of the information; and
(4)    Includes:
(i)    Information addressing:
1.    The signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders;
2.    Perinatal medication usage;
3.    Risk factors of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including perinatal loss and high–risk pregnancy;
4.    How and when to screen for symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders;
5.    Brief intervention strategies; and
6.    Evidence–based psychosocial treatments; and
(ii)    Contact information for national and local maternal mental health programs and services.
(c)    The Department shall:
(1)    Provide the information identified by the Department under subsection (b) of this section to health care facilities and health care providers that provide prenatal care, labor and delivery services, and postnatal care to expectant parents; and
(2)    Make the information identified by the Department under subsection (b) of this section available on the Department’s website.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 18 - Maternal Mental Health › Section 20-1802 - Training Programs

(a)    The Department, in collaboration with MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, the Maryland Nurses Association, the Maryland Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives, the Maryland Psychological Association, and any other health professional association or public health entity in the State identified by the Department, shall identify and develop training programs that improve early identification of postpartum depression and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
(b)    The programs developed under subsection (a) of this section shall include continuing medical education programs developed by organizations that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 19 - Subcutaneous Implanting of Identification Device › Section 20-1901 - Definitions

(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    (1)    “Identification device” means an item, an application, or a product that is passively or actively capable of transmitting personal information, including devices using radio frequency technology.
(2)    “Identification device” does not include an item, an application, or a product that is used in the diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, or prevention of a health condition.
(c)    “Personal information” includes the following data elements to the extent that the data elements are used alone or in conjunction with other information used to identify an individual:
(1)    First or last name;
(2)    Address;
(3)    Telephone number;
(4)    E–mail, Internet Protocol, or website address;
(5)    Date of birth;
(6)    Driver’s license number or identification card number;
(7)    Bank, credit card, or other financial account number;
(8)    Any unique personal identifier contained or encoded on a health insurance, health benefit, or benefit card or record issued in conjunction with a government–supported aid program;
(9)    Religion;
(10)    Ethnicity or nationality;
(11)    Photograph;
(12)    Fingerprint or other biometric identifier;
(13)    Social Security number; and
(14)    Any other unique personal identifier.
(d)    “Require, coerce, or compel” includes the use of physical violence, threat, intimidation, retaliation, the conditioning of any private or public benefit, including employment, promotion, or other employment benefit, and any other means to cause a reasonable individual of ordinary susceptibilities to acquiesce when the individual otherwise would not.
(e)    “Subcutaneous” means existing, performed, or introduced under or on the skin.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 19 - Subcutaneous Implanting of Identification Device › Section 20-1902 - Subcutaneous Implanting of an Identification Device

(a)    A person or an agent, a representative, or a designee of the State or a local government may not require, coerce, or compel an individual to undergo the subcutaneous implanting of an identification device.
(b)    (1)    An individual who is implanted with a subcutaneous identification device in violation of subsection (a) of this section may file a civil action in the circuit court in the county where the violation occurred.
(2)    If the court finds that the person or agent, representative, or designee of the State or a local government violated subsection (a) of this section, the court may:
(i)    Assess against the defendant:
1.    A civil penalty not exceeding $10,000; and
2.    An additional civil penalty not exceeding $1,000 for each day after the day of implantation that the violation continues until corrected; and
(ii)    Award the plaintiff:
1.    Compensatory damages;
2.    Injunctive relief;
3.    Reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses, including expert witness fees and expenses; or
4.    Any other appropriate relief.
(3)    In addition to the damages or relief awarded under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the court may award the plaintiff punitive damages on a finding of proof of the defendant’s malice, oppression, fraud, or duress inflicted in requiring, coercing, or compelling the plaintiff to undergo the subcutaneous implanting of an identification device.
(c)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an action brought under subsection (b) of this section shall be filed within 3 years after the date on which the identification device was implanted.
(2)    If a defendant induces the plaintiff to delay the filing of the action or the plaintiff delays the filing due to threats made by the defendant that caused the plaintiff duress, the defendant may not assert the limitation specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(d)    The remedies provided by this section are in addition to any other statutory, legal, or equitable remedies that may be available and are not intended to be prerequisite to or exclusive of any other remedies.
(e)    The provisions of this section shall be liberally construed in the protection of privacy and bodily integrity.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 20 - Facilities Providing Dialysis Treatment › Section 20-2001 - Health Care Facility Defined

In this subtitle, “health care facility” means a facility or an office where health or medical care is provided to patients by a health care provider, including:
(1)    A health care facility as defined in § 19–114(d)(1) of this article;
(2)    A kidney dialysis center;
(3)    A facility operated by the Department or a health officer; and
(4)    The office of a health care provider.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 20 - Facilities Providing Dialysis Treatment › Section 20-2002 - Peritoneal Dialysis or Hemodialysis Treatment Services Prohibited by Untrained Individuals -- Violations -- Adoption of Regulations

(a)    A health care facility may not provide peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis treatment services unless the individual performing the dialysis procedure has received training in the peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis technique being performed.
(b)    A person who violates subsection (a) of this section is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the Department not exceeding $5,000 for each violation.
(c)    The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 21 - Long-Term Care Planning › Section 20-2101 - Development and Publication of Materials on Long-Term Care Planning -- Contents -- Multiple Languages

(a)    On or before April 1, 2022, the Department shall develop and publish materials to assist Maryland residents with long–term care family planning.
(b)    The materials developed under subsection (a) of this section, consistent with recommendation number 4 in the Report of the Maryland Governor’s Task Force on Long–Term Care Planning published in 2018 as required by Chapters 212 and 213 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2017, shall:
(1)    Meet the requirements for the PLAN NOW Starter Kit described in recommendation number 4;
(2)    Be consistent with the mock–up PLAN NOW Starter Kit materials detailed in recommendation number 4; and
(3)    Include contact information, including websites and phone numbers, for organizations that a State resident may contact for assistance with long–term care family planning.
(c)    The Department shall:
(1)    Make the materials published under this section available in English, Spanish, and any other language, as the Department determines is necessary; and
(2)    Ensure that the materials published under this section are understandable to individuals with limited literacy skills.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2201 - Definitions. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
(a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Hub” means the Consumer Health Information Hub.
(c)    “Plain language” means language that is clear, concise, well–organized, and complies with other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience.
(d)    (1)    “Public communication” means a document that:
(i)    Is necessary for obtaining a government benefit or service;
(ii)    Provides information about a government benefit or service; or
(iii)    Explains to the public how to comply with a requirement that the government administers or enforces.
(2)    “Public communication” includes a letter, a publication, a form, a notice, or an instruction.
(3)    “Public communication” does not include a regulation.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2202 - Findings on Health Literacy. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
The General Assembly finds that health literacy is:
(1)    Part of the State’s critical public health and health systems infrastructure; and
(2)    An essential contributor to health equity.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2203 - Plain Language in Public Communications. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
State and local agencies shall use plain language in public communications about health, health insurance, safety, and social services benefits.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2204 - State's Consumer Health Information Hub -- Purpose -- Duties -- Annual Appropriations -- Annual Reports. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
(a)    The University of Maryland Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy is designated as the State’s Consumer Health Information Hub.
(b)    The purpose of the Hub is to promote and ensure public access to accurate, consistent, evidence–based, plain–language information in preferred languages to inform decisions about health, safety, and social services benefits.
(c)    The Hub shall:
(1)    Protect and promote public health by engaging with State and local government agencies, health systems, nonprofit and community–based organizations, and other entities to carry out the Hub’s purpose and duties under this subtitle;
(2)    Establish and promote health literacy criteria, certifications, and best practices that advance the effectiveness of the State’s health care system;
(3)    Identify health literacy challenges and provide recommendations to agencies and organizations on how to address the challenges, including by improving programs and materials to provide the public with access to plain–language health, safety, and social services benefits information;
(4)    Monitor and report on the use of health literacy and plain–language initiatives and support public reporting of vital public health information, including health care quality reports from the Maryland Health Care Commission; and
(5)    Support the identification and ongoing training of health literacy officers in State and local agencies.
(d)    For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $350,000 to the Hub.
(e)    On or before July 1 each year, beginning in 2024, the Hub shall submit a report to the  Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the implementation of this subtitle, including the status of statewide health literacy efforts and materials provided.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2205 - Consistent Use of Health Literacy and Plain-Language Criteria -- Workforce Development -- Community Health Literacy. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
(a)    The Hub shall facilitate consistent State and local government use of health literacy and plain–language criteria, which may include by:
(1)    Identifying vendors of health information products that adopt the Hub’s health literacy criteria;
(2)    Offering a health literacy review of sources of public information or public media regarding health, safety, and social services benefits information;
(3)    Publishing templates that aid the development of plain–language health information materials; and
(4)    Publishing templates and model language for use by State agencies and local government agencies for awarding grants and contracts to ensure that recipients:
(i)    Address health literacy issues in their proposals and workplans; and
(ii)    Refrain from creating additional health literacy barriers.
(b)    The Hub shall support workforce development, which may include by:
(1)    Offering or recommending educational sessions on health literacy for health professionals and individuals who develop health, safety, and social services benefits information for the public; and
(2)    Providing educational and age–appropriate resources that teach students health literacy and health literacy skills for primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education.
(c)    The Hub shall assist programs and organizations to promote community health literacy, which may include by:
(1)    Offering Hub assessments of programs and organizations to identify barriers to public access of health, safety, and social services benefits information and services; and
(2)    Assisting entities with providing consumers with plain–language health information and referral and support services in a consumer’s preferred language.
(d)    In carrying out this section, the Hub may collaborate with entities that directly educate the public, including education institutions, libraries, and consumer referral services.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2206 - Best Practices for Media or Media Campaign -- Review by Hub -- Consideration When Awarding Grants. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
(a)    The Hub shall develop and publish criteria for evaluating whether media or a media campaign follows best practices for the promotion of health literacy.
(b)    (1)    If a person submits its media or media campaign to the Hub for review, the Hub shall use the criteria developed under subsection (a) of this section to evaluate whether the media or media campaign follows best practices for the promotion of health literacy.
(2)    The Department and the Hub shall encourage persons that promote public health, health education, or health awareness to submit media for evaluation by the Hub under this section.
(c)    When awarding grants, the Department and local health departments shall give special consideration, in a manner determined to be appropriate by the department awarding the grant, to entities that are designated by the Hub to meet health literacy criteria under subsection (b) of this section.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Health Provisions › Subtitle 22 - Consumer Health Information › Section 20-2207 - Judicial Review Not Warranted -- Administrative or Judicial Action Not Authorized. [Subtitle Subject to Abrogation]

// EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //
(a)    Alleged compliance or noncompliance with a provision of this subtitle is not subject to judicial review.
(b)    This subtitle does not create or authorize a right enforceable by administrative or judicial action.
2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 21 - Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics › Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions › Part I - Definitions and Scope of Title › Section 21-102 - Scope of Title

(a)    The provisions of this title that relate to the sale of a consumer commodity also apply to:
(1)    Manufacturing, producing, processing, packing, exposing, offering, possessing, or holding the consumer commodity for sale;
(2)    Dispensing or giving the consumer commodity; and
(3)    Supplying or applying the consumer commodity in the operation of any food, drug, or cosmetic establishment.
(b)    If a substance is alleged to be misbranded because the labeling is misleading or if an advertisement is alleged to be false because it is misleading, there shall be taken into account:
(1)    The representations made or suggested by statement, word, design, symbol, or sound, alone or in combination; and
(2)    The extent to which the labeling or advertisement fails to reveal consequences that may result from use of the substance.