May27,1999

The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 345.

This bill repeals two circumstances in which a private review agent may retrospectively render an adverse decision regarding preauthorized or approved health care services. A private review agent may no longer retrospectively render an adverse decision when a patient was not insured by or an enrollee of the entity the private review agent is affiliated with and except for when determinations of appropriateness or medical necessity, the services would not be covered in whole or in part under the policy or contract.

Senate Bill 350, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May 27, 1999, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign House Bill 345.

Sincerely,
Parris N. Glendening
Governor