HB 882 repeals the requirement that the Governor must include a mandatory $350,000 annual appropriation for the State's Consumer Health Information Hub in the budget. It also removes the automatic expiration date (June 30, 2026) for the Hub's funding provisions. The bill changes the Hub's mandate to carry out its duties "to the extent funding is available," meaning its operations now depend on annual budget decisions rather than guaranteed funding. This directly affects the Hub - designated as the University of Maryland Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy - by eliminating its guaranteed funding stream and making its services subject to yearly budget approvals.
HB 445, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) and private health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses (supportive devices like braces) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates annual coverage for orthoses, including repairs, replacements, and components, without lifetime dollar limits or higher copays than other medical benefits. The bill clarifies that coverage must include all orthoses deemed medically necessary by a provider for daily living or essential job activities. It directly affects Maryland residents enrolled in Medicaid or private health plans covering hospital/medical benefits, ensuring access to these devices without restrictive lifetime limits or unnecessary barriers.
HB 422 expands Maryland's expedited partner therapy (EPT) program to include bacterial vaginosis (BV), allowing certain healthcare providers to prescribe antibiotics to a partner of a diagnosed patient without requiring a physical exam of the partner. The bill specifically adds BV to the list of conditions (alongside chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis) where physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and designated health department nurses can provide treatment to partners. This applies to patients diagnosed with BV, aiming to reduce reinfection and slow disease spread without requiring partners to visit a clinic. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 42 revises Maryland's licensing requirements for massage therapists, transitioning from a "registered" status to mandatory licensure. It requires new applicants (starting October 1, 2024) to complete 750 contact hours of approved education (up from 600 hours for current registrants), meet updated accreditation standards, and pass a board-approved exam. Existing registered massage therapists may continue practicing until October 31, 2026, after which they must obtain a license. The bill also removes outdated administrative penalty hearing requirements and updates rules for out-of-state practitioners seeking reciprocity.
HB 672 amends the Maryland Pediatric Cancer Fund to specify that only nonprofit hospitals, educational institutions, and other nonprofit organizations may receive grants for pediatric cancer research, removing previous eligibility for physicians, laboratories, and individuals. The bill requires grant funds to be used exclusively for direct research costs, prohibiting use for administrative overhead or community-based services. It also mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly on fund administration, promotional efforts, and detailed fund usage.
HB 276 revises Maryland's Public Access Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program to clarify requirements for entities using AEDs. It establishes a mandatory "AED Coordinator" role to maintain AED functionality and reporting, repeals outdated requirements for regional council AED committees, and exempts law enforcement agencies from needing a certificate for AEDs deployed in patrol vehicles. The bill affects businesses, organizations, and government entities that operate public AEDs, requiring them to maintain written AED plans and coordinate with emergency services. Key changes streamline oversight while ensuring AEDs remain accessible and properly maintained for public use during cardiac emergencies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
