1. (a) In this section, “facility” means a special psychiatric hospital or an acute general care hospital with separately identified inpatient psychiatric service.

2. (b)

   1. (1) As a condition of licensure, each facility shall adopt written policies and procedures to implement the requirements of §§ 10-701 through 10-709 of this article. The policies and procedures:

      1. (i) May expand the rights provided in §§ 10-701 through 10-709 of this article;
      2. (ii) Shall provide for a mechanism for patients and others to report suspected violations of §§ 10-701 through 10-709 of this article to a designated official of the hospital;
      3. (iii) Shall provide a system for investigating suspected violations; and
      4. (iv) Shall ensure that there is a timely appropriate response to any suspected violation.
   2. (2) The Secretary may inspect any document necessary to ensure compliance with this subsection and §§ 10-701 through 10-709 of this article.

   3. (3) If a hospital that is a facility fails to adopt and implement the policies and procedures required by this subsection or maintains a continuing pattern of conditions or practices in knowing violation of §§ 10-701 through 10-709 of this article, the Secretary may impose the following penalties, but only after the Secretary has satisfied the conditions in § 19-360 of this subtitle:

      1. (i) Delicensure of the specialty psychiatric hospital;
      2. (ii) Delicensure of the separately identified psychiatric service of the acute general care hospital; or
      3. (iii) A fine not to exceed $500 per day for each day the violation continues.

Added by Acts 1991, c. 500, § 1, eff. July 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 1992, c. 22, § 1, eff. April 7, 1992.