(a) There is a Mortality Review Committee established within the Department. (b) The purpose of the Committee is to prevent avoidable deaths and to improve the quality of care provided to persons with developmental disabilities.
The Committee shall: (1) Evaluate causes or factors contributing to deaths in facilities or programs: (i) Operated or licensed by the Developmental Disabilities Administration; (ii) Licensed by the Behavioral Health Administration to provide mental health services and identified in § 10–713(a) of this article; or (iii) Operating by waiver under § 7–903(b) of this article; (2) Identify patterns and systemic […]
(a) The Committee shall consist of 18 members appointed by the Secretary, including the following: (1) A licensed physician who is board certified in an appropriate specialty; (2) A psychopharmacologist; (3) A licensed physician on staff with the Department; (4) Two specialists, one in the field of developmental disabilities and one in the field of mental health; (5) Two licensed providers […]
(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Office of Health Care Quality shall review each death of an individual with developmental disabilities or with a mental illness who, at the time of death, resided in or was receiving services from any program or facility licensed or operated by the Developmental Disabilities Administration […]
Upon request of the chair of the Committee or subcommittee, and as necessary to carry out the purpose of the Committee, the following shall immediately provide the Committee or subcommittee with access to information and records regarding an individual whose death is being reviewed: (1) A provider of medical care, including dental and mental health care; […]
// EFFECTIVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2022 PER CHAPTERS 340 AND 341 OF 2012 // (a) (1) The Office of Health Care Quality shall provide aggregate incident data to the Committee once every 3 months. (2) When providing aggregate incident data to the Committee, to the extent practicable, the Office of Health Care Quality shall identify trends and patterns […]
A person shall have the immunity from liability under § 5-637 of the Courts Article for any action as a member of the Committee or for giving information to, participating in, or contributing to the function of the Committee or subcommittee.
(a) (1) At least once in a calendar year, the Committee shall prepare a report for public distribution. (2) The report shall include aggregate information that sets forth the numbers of deaths reviewed, the ages of the deceased, causes and circumstances of death, a summary of the Committee’s activities, and summary findings. (3) Summary findings shall include patterns and […]
(a) The Committee shall maintain records of its deliberations including any recommendations. (b) (1) Except for the public report issued under § 5-808(a) of this subtitle, any records of deliberations, findings, or files of the Committee shall be confidential and are not discoverable under § 1-401 of the Health Occupations Article. (2) This subsection does not prohibit the discovery […]
Meetings of the Committee and subcommittees shall be closed to the public and not subject to Title 10, Subtitle 5 of the State Government Article.
