HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2171

WHEREAS, Among the most significant findings it was
discovered that:

(1)   Maryland hospitals are subject to 1,078
different regulatory oversights;

(2)   Most regulatory activity is directed at
hospital administration and not at the delivery of services
to patients;

(3)   Basic matters such as waste disposal are
regulated by as many as 12 different agencies; and

(4)   Regulatory jurisdictions are so vague that
not even the hospital department heads who deal with the
regulators directly are certain which agency regulates
certain areas; and

WHEREAS, Other similar studies conducted on both the
federal and local levels give clear indications that these
regulations and the effort required to comply with them add
substantial costs to the patients' bills; and

WHEREAS, To the extent that unnecessary duplication can
be eliminated and the regulation of Maryland hospitals can
be simplified, there should be a beneficial impact on the
continuing rise in the need for health care; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Governor Legislative Policy Committee is requested to
appoint a Commission to study all facets of the regulation
of hospitals and to recommend ways to eliminate all
unnecessary duplication in these regulations; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That the Commission consist of 15 members;
three members of the Senate of Maryland; three members of
the House of Delegates of Maryland; one member representing
the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; five members
representing the hospitals of Maryland; and three members
appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be Chairman of
the Commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall report its
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly-
Legislative Policy Committee by January 1980 1981; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to the
Honorable Harry Hughes, Governor; the Honorable James Clark,
Jr., President of the Senate; the Honorable Benjamin L.
Cardin, Speaker of the House of Delegates; Charles R. Buck,
Jr., Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; and the
Maryland Hospital Association, 130 1 York Road, Towson,
Maryland 21204.