2012                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 730

the cost of psychiatric care through partial

hospitalization.

BY adding to

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 354-I [[, 470J]] and 477K

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1972 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Sections 354-I [[, 470J]] and 477K be
and they are hereby added to Article 48A - Insurance
Code, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1972 Replacement
Volume and 1975 Supplement) to read as follows:

Article 48A — Insurance Code

354-I.

[[EVERY NONPROFIT HEALTH INSURER WHO ISSUES OR
DELIVERS A HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY TO ANY PERSON IN THIS
STATE SHALL OFFER BENEFITS FOR PARTIAL PSYCHIATRIC
HOSPITALIZATION IN WHICH THE PATIENT IS LIVING AT HOME
PART OF THE TIME AND SPENDING SOME TIME IN A TREATMENT
PROGRAM.

470J.

EVERY INSURER WHO ISSUES OR DELIVERS AN INDIVIDUAL
HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY TO ANY PERSON IN THIS STATE SHALL
OFFER BENEFITS FOR PARTIAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION IN
WHICH THE PATIENT IS LIVING AT HOME PART OF THE TIME AND
SPENDING SOME TIME IN A TREATMENT PROGRAM.]]

(A) AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT, EVERY
NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLAN WHICH PROPOSES TO ISSUE A

GROUP HOSPITAL POLICY___IN__MARYLAND SHALL__OFFER THE

PROSPECTIVE GROUP POLICYHOLDER AT AN APPROPRIATE PREMIUM

ADJUSTMENT, IF ANY, THE OPTION OF PROVIDING BENEFITS__FOR

THE COST OF PSYCHIATRIC CARE THROUGH PARTIAL

HOSPITALIZATION.

(B)    AS USED IN THIS SECTION, PARTIAL

HOSPITALIZATION MEANS A PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE OFFERED IN A
HOSPITAL OR IN A PSYCHIATRIC DAY CAPE TREATMENT CENTER OR
IN A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY PROVIDING MEDICALLY
DIRECTED INTENSIVE OR INTERMEDIATE SHORT-TERM PSYCHIATRIC

TREATMENT FOR A PERIOD OF LESS THAN 24 HOURS BUT MORE

THAN 4 HOURS IN A DAY FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL PATIENT.

(C)    BENEFITS SHALL PROVIDE FOR PSYCHIATRIC__CARE

FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION TREATMENT

DAYS DURING ANY PERIOD OF 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

(D) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, ANY PROPOSED

CHANGE IN BENEFITS PROVIDED BY AN EXISTING GROUP HOSPITAL
POLICY SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PROPOSAL TO ISSUE A POLICY