Sec. 10.35.01.20. Body Transportation Reimbursement

A. The deputy medical examiner or forensic investigator shall arrange for body transportation services of human remains from a scene of death in Maryland to a specified location within Maryland.

B. The deputy medical examiner or forensic investigator shall contact local county funeral directors or appropriate body transportation service providers within their jurisdiction, on a rotational basis, to arrange for body transportation services.

C. Funeral directors and body transportation service providers are eligible to transport human remains for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. However, it is the responsibility of each local funeral director or body transportation service to notify the deputy medical examiner or forensic investigator if they are interested in providing this service for the State.

D. Providers of body transportation services shall be available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year to provide body transportation services, as needed, and shall provide their own equipment to transport human remains.

E. Human remains shall be accorded the proper dignity expected under accepted mortuary standards and practices, and shall be handled in accordance with universal precautions as defined in "Control of Communicable Diseases in Man", which is incorporated by reference in COMAR 10.06.01.01, as well as the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner guidelines to protect remains and evidence.

F. Payment.

(1) Providers of body transportation services shall be paid as provided in the State budget, $3.30 per mile, one way, plus any tolls, with a minimum of $100 from the scene of death to a designated location. The mileage shall be verified by the OCME.

(2) This is the sole compensation the provider is entitled to, and the provider or any other person may not submit a charge to any other party, including the family of the deceased, for this service.

(3) In the case of a victim of a homicide, the transport service shall be paid the rate stated in §F(1) of this regulation to transport the body from the site of autopsy or examination to a location within Maryland specified by the victim's family.

(4) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for completing the Transportation of Bodies Report for payment.

(5) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for providing a replacement body pouch when the body is transported to that office.