(a) (1) There is a Maryland Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Registry and Referral System in the Department.

(2) The purpose of the Registry and Referral System is to provide a statewide system through which health care providers can identify and access available inpatient and outpatient mental health and substance use services for patients in a seamless manner.

(3) Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall develop and implement the Registry and Referral System, in collaboration with the State-designated Health Information Exchange.

(4) The Registry and Referral System shall include:

(i) A searchable inventory of any provider of mental health and substance use disorder services, including inpatient, crisis, and outpatient services;

(ii) The capability to allow a provider of mental health and substance use disorder services to update registry information including the real-time availability of services; and

(iii) An electronic referral system that is available to any health care provider in the State to facilitate electronic referrals to mental health and substance use disorder providers.

(b) The Department shall:

(1) Determine the appropriate technology to support the operation of the Registry and Referral System; and

(2) To the extent practicable, consider existing technology operated by the State-designated health information exchange, workflow of providers, and practices of providers when determining the appropriate technology for the Registry and Referral System.

(c) (1) There is a Maryland Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Registry and Referral System Advisory Committee.

(2) The Advisory Committee shall advise the Department on the development and implementation of the Registry and Referral System.

(3) The Advisory Committee shall include:

(i) The Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health, or the Deputy Secretary’s designee;

(ii) The Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services, or the Deputy Secretary’s designee;

(iii) The Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, or the Executive Director’s designee;

(iv) One representative with expertise in health information technology, designated by the Maryland chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society;

(v) Providers of mental health and substance use services; and

(vi) Any other representatives considered necessary by the Department to assist in the development and implementation of the Registry and Referral System.

(4) The Advisory Committee shall make recommendations to the Department relating to the design, development, implementation, and funding of the Registry and Referral System on:

(i) Necessary regulations;

(ii) The status of the resource directory and pilot program developed by the Department; and

(iii) Sources of funding, including grant funds and other sources of federal, private, or State funds.

(5) On or before January 1 each year, the Advisory Committee shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, on the implementation of the Registry and Referral System.

(d) Each hospital shall ensure the availability of staff to identify appropriate and available services for patients in the hospital who are in need of mental health or substance use disorder services and to assist the patient in accessing the services.

(e) The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle.