(a) On or before January 1, 2018, each hospital shall have a protocol for discharging a patient who was treated by the hospital for a drug overdose or was identified as having a substance use disorder.
(b) The protocol may include:
(1) Coordination with peer recovery counselors who can conduct a screening, a brief intervention, and referral to treatment and connection of the patient with community services; and
(2) Prescribing naloxone for the patient.
(c) (1) Beginning in 2018, a hospital shall submit to the Maryland Hospital Association the hospital’s protocol for discharging a patient who was treated by the hospital for a drug overdose or was identified as having a substance use disorder.
(2) On or before December 1, 2018, the Maryland Hospital Association shall submit a report to the Department and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Finance Committee, the House Health and Government Operations Committee, and the Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders on each hospital’s discharge protocol as submitted to the Maryland Hospital Association under paragraph (1) of this subsection.