Health

SB 808 amends Maryland's health insurance laws to change how health insurance carriers manage provider panels. It eliminates application fees carriers can charge providers, requires carriers to send specific notices to providers within set timeframes, and mandates more frequent updates to provider directories. The bill also expands the types of providers carriers cannot restrict on panels and updates rules for multi-carrier online directory systems. These changes directly affect health insurance carriers and healthcare providers seeking to join insurance networks.

SB 891 requires health insurance companies in Maryland to provide pregnant individuals and those up to one year postpartum with a standing referral to a mental health provider without needing a new authorization each time. It also mandates coverage for perinatal mental health screenings during pregnancy and postpartum, and directs the Maryland Department of Health to create a screening program. Additionally, the bill requires health professionals renewing licenses to complete continuing education on perinatal mental health conditions. These provisions directly affect insurers, pregnant/postpartum individuals, mental health providers, and health license holders.

SB 370 revises Maryland's acupuncture licensing rules by defining "manual therapies" as part of licensed acupuncture practice and requiring the State Acupuncture Board to provide proof of license renewal instead of issuing physical renewal certificates. The bill prohibits employers from hiring unlicensed acupuncture practitioners or aiding unauthorized practice, with penalties including civil fines up to $50,000 and criminal charges for repeat offenses. It directly affects licensed acupuncturists, their employers, and clinics that hire practitioners, clarifying what constitutes authorized practice under state law. The changes take effect October 1, 2026, and align licensing standards with national certification requirements for new applicants.

SB 39 establishes a workgroup to develop a sustainable reimbursement rate methodology for Maryland's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Outpatient Mental Health Centers (OMHCs), directly affecting behavioral health providers facing financial strain due to outdated rates. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to conduct a cost study of OMHC services, form an advisory panel to review rate recommendations, and increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for OMHCs in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Key provisions include evaluating provider costs, workforce needs, and alignment with somatic health care parity, while addressing closures like those in Frederick County. The workgroup must report findings by December 2027, aiming to stabilize provider finances and ensure continued access to community mental health care.

SB 411 requires non-state hospitals in Maryland to establish clinical staffing committees with equal representation from management and frontline staff, including nurses, technicians, and other caregivers. These committees must develop evidence-based staffing plans considering patient acuity, staffing gaps, and daily patient needs, which hospitals must implement starting January 1, 2028. Hospitals must annually review these plans, publicly post staffing data on units, and submit annual reports to the Maryland Health Care Commission beginning in 2030. The bill directly affects hospital operations, staffing decisions, and transparency for frontline workers and patients.