annually designates the chairperson and vice-chair-
person. The Authority, with the Governor's ap-
proval, appoints the Executive Director (Code
1957, Art. 43C).

HEALTH CLAIMS ARBITRATION
OFFICE

Harry L. Chase, Esq., Director

118 North Howard St., Suite 610
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 333-4018
toll free: 1-800-492-1951
fax: (410) 333-6247

BUDGET (CODE 23.01.05.07)
............... FY1992 ............... FY1993 ............... FY1994
Funds ............ (actual) ............ (actual) ............ (approp.)
General ...... $1,052,793 . . . $1,001,044. ..... $875,766
Total Funds . . . $1,052,793 . . . $1,001,044. ..... $875,766

Staff

Authorized. .......... 15 .......... 14. ........... 15
Contractual (FTE)...... 2 ........... 3..............
Total Staff ........... 17 .......... 17..............

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

DIRECTOR

Harry L. Chase, Esq., Director (appointed by Governor
with Senate advice & consent) .... (410) 333-4018

ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE
Patricia M. Rinehart ...... (410) 333-4047

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY & DOCKET
CLERK SUPERVISOR
Robin L. Ryan. ...... (410) 333-4021

TELEPHONE INTERVIEWER SUPERVISOR
Bernice Bell......... (410) 333-4237

The Health Claims Arbitration Office was estab-
lished in 1976 (Chapter 235, Acts of 1976). For
any person asserting a medical injury claim against
a health care provider for damages in excess of
$10,000, the claim must be filed with the Office.
Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice
and consent, the Director notifies all affected parties
and supplies a list of qualified arbitrators, six from each
of three categories. From each of these categories, one
mutually agreed upon arbitrator is chosen to sit on a
three-person arbitration panel. That panel must de-
termine who is liable with respect to the claim and, if
a health care provider is liable, must consider and
assess damages. The decision of the arbitration panel
is final, unless rejected by any party, in which case the
rejecting party must file an appeal with the Circuit
Court to reverse or modify the award.
The Director is responsible for preparing three lists
of qualified persons willing to serve as arbitrators of
health care malpractice claims. One list consists of
attorneys, one of health care providers, and one of
persons from the general public who are neither attor-
neys, health care providers, nor in the employ of
insurance interests (Code Courts and Judicial Pro-
ceedings Article, sec. 3-2A-03).

TASK FORCE TO STUDY HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL-CLIENT SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION

S. Michael Plaut, Ph.D., Chairperson

Appointed by Governor (who names chair): Carl F.
Ameringer, Esq.; Ann C. Birk, M.D.; Stanley E. Block,
D.D.S.; Delores P. Brooks; Rev. Carol Cole Flanagan;
Francine B. Gemmill, R.N., C.S.-P.; Ann Hennessy,
Ph.D.; John P. Herlehy; Hilda I. Houlihan, MD.;
Emanuel Mandel; Paula J. McCullough-Lawrence,
D.C.; Jane E. Meyer; Catherine D. Nugent; Suzanne
N. O'Meara; Sherry Russell; Judith A. Schank; Rabbi
Julie Ringold Spitzer; Cynthia A. Sprehe.

Appointed by Senate President: Michael J. Collins;
Paula C. Hollinger.

Appointed by House Speaker: Leonard H.
Teitelbaum; David M. Valderrama.

Ex officio: Joseph P. Gill, Esq., designee of Attorney
General

Staff: Margaret S. Mason

c/o Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene
201 West Preston St., Room 504
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 225-5383

The Task Force to Study Health Professional-
Client Sexual Exploitation was formed in 1993
(Chapter 299, Acts of 1993). The twenty-three
member Task Force is to devise a strategy for pre-
venting sexual exploitation of clients by health pro-
fessionals (Code 1957, Art. 41, sec. 18-304).
By January 1, 1996, the Task Force will report
to the Governor and General Assembly.

MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMISSION

Shaila R. Aery, Ed.D., Secretary of
Higher Education

16 Francis St.
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410)974-2971

BUDGET (CODE 36.09.00)

............... FY1992 ............... FY1993 ............... FY1994
Funds ........... (actual) ............ (actual) ............ (approp.)
General ..... $51,848,848 . $167,941,422. . . $170,380,898
Special ......$ 348,493 . $ 1,401,535. . . $ 1,551,500
Federal. .....$ 2,236,703 . $ 2,849,372. . . $ 2,864,081
Total Funds . . $54,434,045 . $172,192,329. . . $174,796,479

Staff

Authorized. ....... 59.50 ........ 68.50. ......... 68.5
Contractual (FTE). . . 1.40 ......... 1.15. .............
Total Staff ........ 60.90 ........ 69.65. .............

MANDATED REPORTS