Updated September 2, 2026. Quick answer: Commission-jurisdiction acute and chronic care hospitals in Maryland must develop a financial-assistance policy.
This guide is limited to the cited Maryland hospital-assistance source and its stated scope.
What changes in Maryland
- Commission-jurisdiction acute and chronic care hospitals in Maryland must develop a financial-assistance policy.
- At minimum, that policy provides free medically necessary care at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
- The hospital must decide whether a patient qualifies within 14 days after the patient applies.
Where this rule stops
This rule applies to acute and chronic care hospitals under Commission jurisdiction and to medically necessary hospital care.
How to verify before you apply
- Identify the hospital or facility covered by the source and obtain its current policy.
- Ask for the current written policy and application instructions.
- Compare the policy with the official source below before relying on any threshold, discount, or deadline.
Related hospital-assistance guides
Primary source
Read Maryland Code, Health–General § 19-214.1. Verify the current official text and the facility’s current policy before acting; this is a source-backed planning guide, not individualized legal advice.