(a)    There is a Maryland Health Care Provider Rate Stabilization Fund.

(b)    The purposes of the Fund are to:

(1)    retain health care providers in the State by allowing medical professional liability insurers to collect rates that are less than the rates approved under § 11–201 of this article;

(2)    increase fee–for–service rates paid by the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to health care providers identified under § 19–807 of this subtitle;

(3)    pay managed care organization health care providers identified under § 19–807 of this subtitle consistent with fee–for–service health care provider rates;

(4)    increase capitation payments to managed care organizations participating in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program consistent with § 15–103(b)(18) of the Health – General Article; and

(5)    during the period that an allocation is made to the Rate Stabilization Account, subsidize up to $350,000 annually to provide for the costs incurred by the Commissioner to administer the Fund.

(c)    The Fund shall consist of:

(1)    the revenue from the tax imposed on health maintenance organizations and managed care organizations under § 6–102 of this article;

(2)    interest or other income earned on the money in the Fund; and

(3)    any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.

(d)    The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

(e)    The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.

(f)    The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.

(g)    The Fund comprises:

(1)    the Rate Stabilization Account from which disbursements shall be made to pay for health care provider rate subsidies; and

(2)    the Medical Assistance Program Account from which disbursements shall be made to:

(i)    provide an increase in fee–for–service health care provider rates paid by the Maryland Medical Assistance Program;

(ii)    provide an increase for managed care organization health care providers consistent with fee–for–service health care provider rate increases;

(iii)    provide an increase in capitation payments to managed care organizations participating in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program consistent with § 15–103(b)(18) of the Health – General Article; and

(iv)    after fiscal year 2009, maintain rates for health care providers and generally to support the operations of the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.