§19–308.8.

    (a)    A hospital may discharge a patient:

        (1)    Entirely;

        (2)    To another level of care, treatment, or services;

        (3)    To different health professionals; or

        (4)    To settings for continued services.

    (b)    A hospital’s process for transfer or discharge shall be based on a patient’s assessed needs.

    (c)    To facilitate discharge or transfer, the hospital shall:

        (1)    Assess a patient’s needs;

        (2)    Plan for discharge or transfer;

        (3)    Facilitate the discharge or transfer process;

        (4)    Give the patient or person responsible for providing continuing care to the patient written discharge instructions in a form the patient can understand; and

        (5)    Help to ensure that continuity of care, treatment, and services is maintained.

    (d)    If a hospital fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the Secretary may impose a civil money penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each failure to comply.

    (e)    A hospital may appeal a civil money penalty imposed under subsection (c) of this section in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.