Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Maryland Code, Health-General § 19-214.3

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a)(1)(i) The Commission shall establish a process for a patient or a patient's authorized representative to file with the Commission a complaint against a hospital for an alleged violation of § 19-214.1 or § 19-214.2 of this subtitle.

(ii) The process established under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall:

1. Include the option for a patient or a patient's authorized representative to file the complaint jointly with the Commission and the Health Education and Advocacy Unit; and

2. Provide the patient or the patient's authorized representative with the following information:

A. The Health Education and Advocacy Unit is available to assist the patient or the patient's authorized representative in filing and mediating a reconsideration request; and

B. The address, phone number, facsimile number, e-mail address, mailing address, and website of the Health Education and Advocacy Unit.

(2)(i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a complaint filed with the Commission is a public record and is subject to reasonable inspection.

(ii) The Commission shall deny inspection of the complainant's name, address, or any other personal identifying information.

(3) The filing of a complaint under this subsection does not prevent an individual from:

(i) Exercising any right or seeking any remedy to which the individual may otherwise be entitled; or

(ii) Filing a complaint with any other agency or a court.

(b)(1) The remedies authorized under this section are in addition to any other statutory, legal, or equitable remedies that may be available and are not intended to be a prerequisite to, or exclusive of, any other remedy.

(2) An individual or a governmental unit is not required to exhaust the administrative remedy authorized under this subtitle before filing suit.

(c)(1) A waiver by any patient or other individual of any protection provided by § 19-214.1, § 19-214.2, or § 19-214.4 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle is null and void as being against the public policy of the State.

(2) Except as prohibited by federal law, a provision in a hospital's financial assistance policy or agreement between the patient and a hospital that waives any substantive or procedural right or remedy related to conduct prohibited by § 19-214.1, § 19-214.2, or § 19-214.4 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle is null and void as being against the public policy of the State.

(d)(1) If a hospital knowingly violates any provision of § 19-214.1 or § 19-214.2 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle, the Commission may impose a fine not to exceed $50,000 per violation.

(2) Before imposing a fine, the Commission shall consider the appropriateness of the fine in relation to the severity of the violation.

(3) A violation by a hospital or an outside collection agency of § 19-214.1 or § 19-214.2 of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle is an unfair, abusive, and deceptive trade practice under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maryland Code, Health-General § 19-214.3 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/md/health-general/md-code-health-gen-sect-19-214-3/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard