PROPOSAL
Maryland Register
Issue Date: December 23, 2016
Volume 43 • Issue 26 • Pages 1462—1464
Title 10
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE
Subtitle 09 MEDICAL CARE PROGRAMS
Notice of Proposed Action
[16-337-P]
The Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene proposes to:
(1) Repeal in their entirety existing Regulations .01—10 under existing COMAR 10.09.01 Nurse Practitioner Services and adopt new Regulations .01—.08 under a new chapter, COMAR 10.09.01 Advanced Practice Nurse Services;
(2) Repeal in their entirety existing Regulations .01—.11 under COMAR 10.09.21 Nurse Midwife Services; and
(3) Repeal in their entirety existing Regulations .01—.10 under COMAR 10.09.39 Nurse Anesthetist Services.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this action is to adopt new streamlined regulations pertaining to advanced practice nurses under one chapter.
Comparison to Federal Standards
There is no corresponding federal standard to this proposed action.
Estimate of Economic Impact
The proposed action has no economic impact.
Economic Impact on Small Businesses
The proposed action has minimal or no economic impact on small businesses.
Impact on Individuals with Disabilities
The proposed action has no impact on individuals with disabilities.
Opportunity for Public Comment
Comments may be sent to Michele Phinney, Director, Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 West Preston Street, Room 512, Baltimore, MD 21201, or call 410-767-6499 (TTY 800-735-2258), or email to dhmh.regs@maryland.gov, or fax to 410-767-6483. Comments will be accepted through January 23, 2017. A public hearing has not been scheduled.
10.09.01 Advanced Practice Nurse Services
Authority: Health-General Article, §2-104(b) 15-103, and 15-105, Annotated Code of Maryland
.01 Definitions.
A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B. Terms Defined.
(1) “Advanced practice nurse” means a:
(a) Certified nurse practitioner;
(b) Certified nurse midwife; or
(c) Certified registered nurse anesthetist.
(2) “American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)” means the private professional organization which:
(a) Sets the standards nationwide for the education and practice of nurse midwives; and
(b) Certifies, by examination, those who have completed the approved educational program.
(3) “Board” means the Maryland State Board of Nursing.
(4) “Certified nurse midwife (CNM)” means a registered nurse who is:
(a) Certified by the Board to practice nurse midwifery; and
(b) Certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
(5) “Certified nurse practitioner” means:
(a) A registered nurse who, by reason of certification under COMAR 10.27.07, may practice in Maryland as a nurse practitioner under the terms of that chapter; or
(b) If out-of-State, a registered nurse who qualifies as a nurse practitioner in the state in which services are provided.
(6) “Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)” means a registered nurse who is certified to practice nurse anesthesia by the Board.
(7) “Department” means the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as defined in COMAR 10.09.36.01.
(8) “Newborn” means an infant who is not more than 48 hours old.
(9) “Nurse midwifery” means the health care management of newborns and women throughout their reproductive life cycle.
(10) “Participant” means an individual who is certified as eligible for, and is receiving Medical Assistance benefits.
(11) “Physician” means an individual who meets the licensure requirements and conditions of participation of COMAR 10.09.02.
(12) “Program” means the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.
(13) “Provider” means an advanced practice nurse who, through appropriate agreement with the Department, has been identified as a Program provider by the issuance of a provider number.
.02 License and Certification Requirements.
A. The provider shall meet all license requirements as set forth in COMAR 10.09.36.02.
B. A certified nurse practitioner applying for provider status shall:
(1) Hold a current license to practice registered nursing in Maryland and be certified as a nurse practitioner by the Board; or
(2) Meet the nurse practitioner regulatory requirements of the state in which the services are provided.
C. A certified nurse midwife applying for provider status shall:
(1) Hold a current license to practice registered nursing in Maryland, be certified as a nurse midwife by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and be in compliance with requirements to practice nurse midwifery established by the Board; or
(2) Meet the nurse midwife regulatory requirements of the state in which the services are provided.
D. A certified registered nurse anesthetist applying for provider status shall:
(1) Hold a current license to practice registered nursing in Maryland and meet the requirements of the Board as set forth in COMAR 10.27.06; or
(2) Meet the nurse anesthetist regulatory requirements of the state in which the services are provided.
.03 Conditions for Participation.
A. A provider shall meet all conditions for participation as set forth in COMAR 10.09.36.03.
B. An advanced practice nurse may not knowingly employ or contract with a person, partnership, or corporation which the Program has disqualified from providing or supplying services to Program participants.
.04 Covered Services.
A. Subject to §B of this regulation, the Program covers medically necessary services rendered to participants as follows:
(1) For nurse practitioners:
(a) Medically necessary services within the provider’s scope of practice as described in COMAR 10.27.07; or
(b) If out-of-State, nurse practitioners’ services authorized in the state in which the services are provided;
(2) For nurse midwives:
(a) Medically necessary services within the provider’s scope of practice as described in COMAR 10.27.05; or
(b) If out-of-State, nurse midwives’ services authorized in the state in which the services are provided;
(3) For nurse anesthetists:
(a) Medically necessary services within the provider’s scope of practice as described in COMAR 10.27.06; or
(b) If out-of-State, nurse anesthetists’ services authorized in the state in which the services are provided;
(4) Laboratory services when the advanced practice nurse is not required to register their office as a medical laboratory pursuant to Health-General Article, Title 17, Subtitle 2, Annotated Code of Maryland; and
(5) Drugs and supplies within the nurse’s scope of practice.
B. The services in §A of this regulation shall be:
(1) Clearly related to the participant’s medical needs; and
(2) Described in the participant’s medical record in sufficient detail to support the invoice submitted for those services.
.05 Limitations.
The Program does not cover the following under this chapter:
A. Services not medically necessary;
B. Services prohibited by the Maryland Nurse Practice Act or by the Board;
C. Advanced practice nursing services included as part of the cost of:
(1) An inpatient facility;
(2) A hospital outpatient department; or
(3) A freestanding clinic;
D. Visits by or to the provider solely for the purpose of the following:
(1) Prescription, drug, or food supplement pick-up;
(2) Recording of an electrocardiogram;
(3) Ascertaining the patient’s weight;
(4) Interpretation of laboratory tests or panels; or
(5) Prescribing or administering medication;
E. Drugs and supplies which are acquired by the provider at no cost;
F. Injections and visits solely for the administration of injections, unless medical necessity and the patient’s inability to take oral medications are documented in the patient’s medical record;
G. More than one visit per day unless adequately documented as an emergency situation;
H. Services paid under the free-standing dialysis program as described in COMAR 10.09.22;
I. Immunizations required for travel outside the continental United States;
J. Prescriptions and injections for central nervous system stimulants and anorectic agents when used for weight control;
K. Acupuncture;
L. Hypnosis;
M. Travel expenses;
N. Investigational or experimental drugs and procedures;
O. Services denied by Medicare as not medically justified;
P. Specimen collection, except by venipuncture and capillary or arterial puncture, as a separate service;
Q. Those laboratory or X-ray services performed by another facility, which shall be billed to the Program directly by the facility; and
R. For certified nurse midwives, a separate visit charge on date of delivery.
.06 Payment Procedures.
A. The provider shall submit the request for payment in the format designated by the Department.
B. The Department reserves the right to return to the provider, before payment, all requests for payment not properly completed.
C. The provider shall charge the Program the provider’s:
(1) Customary charge to the general public for similar services; and
(2) Acquisition cost for injectable drugs or dispensed medical supplies.
D. The provider shall be paid the lesser of:
(1) The provider’s customary charge to the general public unless the service is free to individuals not covered by Medicaid; or
(2) The Medicaid rates as described in COMAR 10.09.02.07.
E. If a service is free to individuals not covered by Medicaid:
(1) The provider:
(a) May charge the Program; and
(b) Shall be reimbursed in accordance with §D of this regulation; and
(2) The provider’s reimbursement is not limited to the provider’s customary charge.
F. Payments on Medicare claims are authorized, if:
(1) Services are covered by the Program;
(2) The provider accepts Medicare assignments;
(3) Medicare makes direct payment to the provider;
(4) Medicare has determined that services were medically justified; and
(5) Initial billing is made directly to Medicare according to Medicare guidelines.
G. The Department shall make supplemental payments on Medicare claims subject to the following provisions:
(1) Deductible insurance shall be paid in full; and
(2) Coinsurance shall be paid at the lesser of:
(a) 100 percent of the coinsurance amount; or
(b) The balance remaining after the Medicare payment is subtracted from the Medicaid rate.
H. The provider may not bill the Program for:
(1) Completion of forms and reports;
(2) Broken or missed appointments; or
(3) Professional services rendered by mail or telephone.
I. The Program may not make direct payment to recipients.
J. Billing time limitations for claims submitted pursuant to this chapter are set forth in COMAR 10.09.36.
K. The Program shall reimburse for all medical laboratory services according to the fees established under COMAR 10.09.09.
L. An advanced practice nurse who is employed by or under contract to any physician, clinic, or hospital may not bill for any service for which reimbursement is sought by the physician, clinic, or hospital.
M. The Program may not reimburse nurse midwives for prenatal or postpartum care once the patient has been referred to a physician for completion of prenatal or postpartum care.
.07 Recovery and Reimbursement.
Recovery and reimbursement are as set forth in COMAR 10.09.36.07.
.08 Causes for Suspension or Removal and Imposition of Sanctions.
Causes for suspension or removal and imposition of sanctions are as set forth in COMAR 10.09.36.08.
VAN T. MITCHELL
Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene
