SB 372 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025

SB 372, the Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025, permanently extends current rules allowing audio-only telephone calls to count as "telehealth" for reimbursement purposes under Maryland's Medicaid program and private insurers. The bill repeals the June 30, 2025, expiration date for this provision in Maryland law, making it permanent. It directly affects the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, private health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that cover telehealth services. The key change is ensuring these entities must continue reimbursing for audio-only telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person care, without requiring video technology, for covered health services.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025 → Enrolled - Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025 · 4 edits · May 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled act, moving from a draft Senate version to a version ready for the Governor's signature. Substantively, the definitions of telehealth were expanded to include prescribing controlled substances for pain via telehealth and removed a temporary expiration date for audio-only services, making them permanent. The reporting requirements for the Maryland Health Care Commission were also adjusted to reflect these ongoing changes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened by removing a sunset clause for audio-only telehealth services and adding specific authorization for prescribing controlled substances through telehealth.

DEFINITION

The definition of telehealth was updated to explicitly allow health care practitioners to prescribe controlled dangerous substances for pain treatment via telehealth.

TIMELINE

A temporary limitation on audio-only telephone conversations for telehealth was removed, making this service type permanent rather than limited to a specific date range.

REQUIREMENT

The reporting schedule for the Maryland Health Care Commission was adjusted to align with the new permanent status of telehealth modalities.

TECHNICAL

The document was updated from a draft Senate bill to an enrolled bill, indicating it has passed all legislative stages and is awaiting the Governor's approval.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 15, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 14, 2025

How they voted

45–1

Passed

Total votes 46

Mar 15, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1 Nay

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 481

executive

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Health and Government Operations

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-1)

senate

Mar 14, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (129-0-10)

house of delegates

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred Health and Government Operations

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

First Reading Finance

upper

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors