HB 813 authorizes Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) to cover comprehensive obesity treatment, including intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved weight management medications, starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to notify Medicaid recipients if it chooses to provide this coverage and mandates a report to the legislature by November 1, 2027, on implementation progress. This directly affects Medicaid recipients with obesity by expanding covered treatments beyond current scope. The program may use standard utilization management processes (like for other conditions) to assess medical necessity but is not required to offer the coverage.
SB 90 adds hypertension to Maryland's list of occupational diseases presumed to be work-related for specific emergency responders. It makes firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal personnel eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they have hypertension diagnosed by a provider, experience it for at least 90 consecutive days, have at least 2 years of cumulative service in those roles, and are currently employed in those positions. This creates a legal presumption that the hypertension is work-related, eliminating the need to prove direct causation, while clarifying that individuals cannot receive both workers' compensation and disability retirement benefits for the same hypertension condition. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 608 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Plan) and certain health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover single-gene and multigene pharmacogenomic testing starting July 1, 2027. This applies specifically when a treating provider orders the test for patients with depression or anxiety who are considering a medication change, dose adjustment, or addition with a known gene-drug interaction. The bill limits prior authorization requirements to ensure timely access, mandating clear pathways, minimal documentation, and sufficient time for submissions without creating unnecessary delays. Noncompliance could result in penalties of up to $10,000 per violation plus $1,000 daily until resolved. The law aims to improve medication safety and effectiveness by making this genetic testing accessible for targeted patient groups.
SB 774, the "TRUTH in Mental Health Coverage Act," requires Maryland health insurance carriers to annually report detailed claims data on mental health and substance use coverage starting in 2028. This affects all insurers offering health benefit plans in Maryland, mandating they submit standardized data on access, network availability, and coverage for services like outpatient care, telehealth, and youth/adult services. The report must include breakdowns by facility type, provider specialty, service format, and geographic area. The Maryland Insurance Commissioner will make this data publicly available through a website and interactive dashboards to improve transparency for consumers.
SB 917 clarifies the scope of practice for audiologists in Maryland by updating the legal definition of "practice audiology." It directly affects licensed audiologists by explicitly including the ordering and performing of in-office, non-radiographic scanning or imaging of the ear for auditory or vestibular conditions. The bill adds this specific imaging authority to existing duties like diagnosing ear conditions and fitting hearing aids, while clarifying that audiologists cannot perform surgeries, cochlear implant procedures, or prepare radiographic imaging. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, and aims to align legal definitions with current clinical practices.
