Section 19-219 - Review and approval of rates and costs [Amendment subject to contingent abrogation]. - Maryland Statutes

§ 19-219. Review and approval of rates and costs [Amendment subject to contingent abrogation].
 

(a)  Rate reviewing power.- The Commission may review costs and rates and make any investigation that the Commission considers necessary to assure each purchaser of health care facility services that: 

(1) The total costs of all hospital services offered by or through a facility are reasonable; 

(2) The aggregate rates of the facility are related reasonably to the aggregate costs of the facility; and 

(3) The rates are set equitably among all purchasers or classes of purchasers without undue discrimination or preference. 

(b)  Rate approval power.-  

(1) To carry out its powers under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission may review and approve or disapprove the reasonableness of any rate that a facility sets or requests. 

(2) A facility shall charge for services only at a rate set in accordance with this subtitle. 

(3) In determining the reasonableness of rates, the Commission may take into account objective standards of efficiency and effectiveness. 

(c)  Alternate ratesetting methods.- To promote the most efficient and effective use of health care facility services and, if it is in the public interest and consistent with this subtitle, the Commission may promote and approve alternate methods of rate determination and payment that are of an experimental nature. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 568U; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 1984, ch. 470; 1985, ch. 10, § 3; ch. 112; 1999, ch. 702, § 2; 2002, ch. 153, § 4; 2003, ch. 1; 2008, chs. 244, 245.]