(a) If it is necessary to provide emergency services, authorization shall be presumed for utilizing the medical or surgical provider on call for unassigned patients or the appropriate specialist on call for the hospital on that date if: (1) A telephone access system is not operational at the time of the call; or (2) A member’s primary care provider or the specialist needed by a member cannot be determined within a reasonable time, as determined by the treating emergency physician but not to exceed 30 minutes after the initial documented call to the telephone access system. (b) This section may not be construed to require a health maintenance organization to have contracted specialist providers at hospitals outside of the service area of the health maintenance organization.
Maryland Legal Code