(a) It is the policy of Montgomery County to protect and promote the public health and safety and general welfare by fostering the development of a health care system that provides financial and geographic access to quality culturally and linguistically competent health care at a reasonable cost for all County residents. To accomplish this purpose, it is essential that plans for maintaining the health of County residents and developing health services to meet the current and future health needs of County residents be prepared, programs to implement these plans be developed and executed, and proposed developments or alterations of health services be publicly reviewed and commented on. Health planning should address the overall health status of County residents, health disparities within social, economic, geographic, racial and ethnic groups, and the effects of social determinants of health on County residents.
(b) This article is intended to organize the manner in which the country conducts its health planning activities. (1988 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 2; 2011 L.M.C., ch. 3, § 1.)