(a) In adopting this subtitle, the General Assembly intends to: (1) Provide alternative methods for the delivery of health care services to residents of this State, with a view toward achieving greater efficiency and economy in providing these services; (2) Encourage the formation of health maintenance organizations that provide health care services to subscribers or groups of subscribers who contract for these services under a system of prepayments; and (3) Encourage the formation of health maintenance organizations by such diverse groups as: (i) Nonprofit health service plans; (ii) Medical health service plans; (iii) Medical care foundations; (iv) Groups of professionals, either in the form of partnerships or professional corporations; (v) Consumer sponsored organizations; or (vi) Business or legal entities. (b) To carry out the intent of subsection (a) of this section, the policy of this State is to: (1) Provide one overall State law that: (i) Regulates health maintenance organizations; (ii) Allows flexibility for the many forms these health maintenance organizations may take; and (iii) Facilitates public understanding and uniform administration of the rules and regulations zations; (ii) Allows flexibility for the many forms these health maintenance organizations may take; and (iii) Facilitates public understanding and uniform administration of the rules and regulations that are adopted under this subtitle; (2) Eliminate legal barriers to the organization, promotion, and expansion of health maintenance organizations; (3) Provide for regulation of: (i) The quality of health care, by the Department and by professional standards review organizations where appropriate; and (ii) All other matters covered under this subtitle, by the Commissioner; and (4) Exempt health maintenance organizations from the insurance laws of this State, except as set forth in this subtitle.
Maryland Legal Code