1. (a) The Commission, in collaboration with community health resources and local health departments, shall develop a specialty care network for individuals:

   1. (1) With family income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level; and
   2. (2) Who are referred through a community health resource.

2. (b) The specialty care network shall:

   1. (1) Consist of health care practitioners who agree to provide care to individuals referred through a community health resource for a discounted fee established by the Commission; and
   2. (2) Include health care practitioners who historically have served the uninsured.
3. (c) Individuals receiving health care through the specialty care network shall pay for specialty care according to a sliding fee scale developed by the Commission.

4. (d) In addition to patient fees, office-based specialty care visits, diagnostic testing, and laboratory tests shall be subsidized by funds provided from:

   1. (1) General funds; and
   2. (2) Money collected from a nonprofit health maintenance organization in accordance with § 6-121(b)(3) of the Insurance Article.
5. (e) Subject to available funding, the Commission shall provide subsidies to community health resources for office-based specialty care visits, diagnostic testing, and laboratory tests.

Added by Acts 2005, c. 280, § 3, eff. July 1, 2005.