Public Health - Maryland Commission on Health Equity - Advisory Committee and Hospital Reporting

SB 129 requires Maryland's Commission on Health Equity (with the Department of Health) to create a Health Equity Measures Advisory Committee. This committee will identify the top 10 health disparities affecting vulnerable populations (like racial minorities, unhoused individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities) and review annual hospital reports. Starting in 2025, all licensed hospitals in Maryland must submit annual Health Equity Reports analyzing disparities in patient outcomes and access to care, using national, state, and local data. Hospitals must publish these reports on their websites, and the Department of Health will publish them publicly online. The bill directly affects all licensed hospitals in Maryland and the Commission on Health Equity.