Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 273: Health Insurance – Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Enrollment – Effective Dates

This bill modifies when health coverage starts for small business employees enrolling during special periods (like marriage, divorce, birth, or court orders). It allows SHOP Exchanges to let employees choose whether coverage begins the next month or the month after, based on when they submit their plan selection (first half of month = next month start; second half = two months later). This directly affects Maryland small businesses using SHOP Exchange plans and their employees who qualify for these special enrollment events. The change applies specifically to enrollments triggered by court orders, death, or divorce/separation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows flexible coverage start dates for SHOP employees during qualifying life events, improving access to health insurance without enrollment delays.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 14: Health Insurance - Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Enrollment - Effective Dates

SB 14 adjusts when health coverage becomes effective for small businesses using Maryland's SHOP Exchange during specific special enrollment periods. It allows SHOP Exchanges to set coverage start dates based on when plan selections are received: the first day of the following month if received by the 15th, or the second month if received after the 15th. This applies to enrollments triggered by court-ordered dependents (like child support), death of an employee or dependent, or divorce/legal separation. The bill directly affects small employers and their employees/dependents who qualify for these special enrollment scenarios under Maryland's SHOP program. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdjusts enrollment timing to allow faster coverage start for small businesses during special enrollment periods, improving access to health insurance.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 139: Insurance - Third Party Administrators - Enforcement

SB 139 amends Maryland law to strengthen oversight of third-party administrators (TPAs) who manage insurance claims for employers or insurers. It expands grounds for the Insurance Commissioner to deny, suspend, or revoke a TPA’s registration (including violations of insurance laws or regulations) and updates civil penalty rules. The bill sets a maximum $10,000 penalty per violation for TPA misconduct, with daily penalties up to $1,000 for ongoing violations. Penalties are determined based on factors like violation severity, the TPA’s history, and harm to policyholders, ensuring enforcement considers context and impact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens oversight of insurance claim managers to prevent misconduct, protecting patient access to coverage under insurance laws.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 277: Insurance – Third Party Administrators – Enforcement

HB 277 strengthens oversight of third-party administrators (TPAs) in Maryland’s insurance industry. It expands grounds for the Insurance Commissioner to deny, suspend, or revoke a TPA’s registration - including violations of insurance laws - and increases civil penalties for violations from $1,000 per day to a maximum of $10,000 per violation. The bill also requires the Commissioner to consider factors like the seriousness of the violation, the TPA’s history, and harm to plan participants when setting penalties. This directly affects TPAs managing insurance claims and benefits, imposing stricter accountability for compliance with Maryland’s insurance regulations, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens oversight of TPAs to prevent violations harming plan participants, aligning with patient protection in healthcare coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 134: Medicare Supplement Policies - Issuance - Requirements

SB 134 requires Maryland insurance carriers to issue Medicare supplement policies (Medigap) to specific eligible individuals without denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on health status. It directly affects: (1) people transitioning from Maryland Medicaid to Medicare Part B, (2) individuals who became Medicare-eligible before January 2020, and (3) disabled people under 65 who qualify for Medicare. Key provisions mandate that carriers must sell these policies during defined 63-day enrollment periods following Medicaid disenrollment or qualifying events, and prohibit health-based pricing or denial for plans A and D. The law also requires carriers to offer comparable or lower-benefit plans during birthday renewals starting July 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to issue Medigap without health-based denial or premium hikes, expanding coverage access for vulnerable Medicare-eligible groups transitioning from Medicaid or with disabilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 275: Medicare Supplement Policies - Issuance - Requirements

HB 275 requires Maryland insurance carriers to issue Medicare supplement policies without discrimination based on health status during specific enrollment periods. It directly affects Medicare beneficiaries transitioning from Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid), disabled individuals under 65 eligible for Medicare, and those with certain federal special enrollment rights. Key provisions include banning denials or higher premiums due to health conditions during a 63-day window after Medicaid termination or qualifying events, and mandating equal or lower-benefit policy options during birthday renewals starting in 2026. The bill ensures these groups can access coverage without health-based barriers, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans health-based discrimination in Medicare supplement policies, ensuring access for Medicaid beneficiaries and disabled individuals transitioning to Medicare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 236: State Athletic Commission - Blood Testing of Contestants - Timing

HB 236 extends the required blood testing window for combat sports athletes in Maryland from 30 days to 90 days. It affects boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers, and mixed martial arts competitors seeking licenses or participating in contests. The bill mandates that applicants and licensed contestants must provide documented evidence of negative tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C within 90 days prior to license application or competition. This change modifies existing Maryland law (Sections 4-101 and 4-304.1 of the Business Regulation Article) to align testing timing with the State Athletic Commission's requirements. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates blood testing for infectious diseases to protect athlete health, strengthening public health safety protocols in sports medicine.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 88: State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists - Authority to Issue Limited Licenses to Practice Music Therapy

SB 88 creates a limited license for music therapists in Maryland who are completing full licensure requirements. It allows the State Board of Examiners to issue these licenses to applicants who meet education standards (including American Music Therapy Association certification), pay fees, and practice under supervision of a fully licensed music therapist. The limited license is valid for one year, renewable once, but expires if full licensure isn't obtained within two years. This does not replace existing services by audiologists or speech-language pathologists, and the practice of music therapy is defined as using music-based interventions within a therapeutic relationship. The bill directly affects aspiring music therapists seeking licensure and the State Board of Examiners.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables provisional licensing for music therapists, expanding access to mental health services through regulated practice pathways while ensuring professional standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 7: State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists - Authority to Issue Limited Licenses to Practice Music Therapy

HB 7 authorizes Maryland's State Board of Examiners to issue limited licenses for music therapists who are completing full licensing requirements but lack sufficient clinical experience. This directly affects new music therapists and healthcare facilities needing to hire them under supervision while they fulfill certification steps. The bill creates a 1-year limited license (renewable once) requiring direct supervision by a fully licensed music therapist, with a 2-year deadline to obtain full licensure. It explicitly states limited licenses cannot replace services from audiologists or speech-language pathologists. The policy change streamlines entry into the profession without altering existing practice standards for music therapy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes limited licenses for music therapists, enabling healthcare facilities to hire under supervision while completing requirements, improving access to mental health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 272: Health Insurance - Scalp Cooling Systems - Required Coverage

SB 272 requires health insurance plans that cover chemotherapy for cancer treatment to also cover scalp cooling systems. These systems are devices designed to prevent or reduce hair loss during chemotherapy by cooling the scalp. The law applies to insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations offering such coverage in Maryland. It takes effect for all policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling during chemo, expanding patient access to quality-of-life treatment beyond standard chemotherapy coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare