Maryland § 19-303.1

§ 19-303.1.

    (a)    In this section, “community health worker” has the meaning stated in § 13–3701 of this article.

    (b)    (1)    A community benefit under § 19–303 of this subtitle may include a partnership between a nonprofit hospital and a community–based organization to establish a community health worker workforce program.

        (2)    The primary purpose of a community health worker workforce program shall be to provide services to patients of a nonprofit hospital that are intended to improve health outcomes and address social determinants of health.

    (c)    (1)    A partnership established under this section may be executed through a memorandum of understanding between a nonprofit hospital and a community–based organization.

        (2)    The memorandum of understanding shall include:

            (i)    The program design;

            (ii)    Goals for patient health outcomes;

            (iii)    Implementation procedures;

            (iv)    Criteria for evaluation and impact measurement;

            (v)    Data collection, management, and reporting standards and protocols that are in accordance with applicable federal and State laws and regulations, including the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; and

            (vi)    An agreement between the nonprofit hospital and the community–based organization identifying which party will be responsible for:

                1.    Recruiting and employing the community health worker workforce;

                2.    Supervising the workforce in the settings in which the community health workers will provide services to patients;

                3.    Training the workforce; and

                4.    Providing employer–sponsored health insurance coverage to each community health worker.

    (d)    A partnership established under this section may provide health insurance coverage to each community health worker for the duration of the program if the individual does not have health insurance coverage and requests coverage.

    (e)    A nonprofit hospital and a community–based organization may collaborate to identify financial resources to address costs associated with increasing administrative capacity within the community–based organization necessary to participate in the partnership.

    (f)    Subject to other provisions of law governing community benefits and on the agreement of the parties, a nonprofit hospital may provide financial support to a community–based organization to cover the costs associated with increasing administrative capacity within the community–based organization necessary to participate in the partnership.