Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 587: Maryland Patient Safety Center Fund - Funding

SB 587 requires the Governor to include a mandatory $1 million annual appropriation for the Maryland Patient Safety Center Fund in the state budget, starting with fiscal year 2027. This fund subsidizes the designated Patient Safety Center’s costs to develop statewide patient safety initiatives, reduce preventable harm, and improve equitable healthcare. The Center must coordinate with healthcare providers and patients, and the Commission administers the nonlapsing fund, which includes interest earnings and must be reported to legislative committees annually. The bill directly affects the Center, the Governor, and the Commission, ensuring consistent funding for patient safety efforts without replacing other state appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates $1M annual appropriation for patient safety center, increasing state budget funding for public health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates $1M annual funding for patient safety initiatives to reduce harm and improve equitable healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 870: Maryland Department of Health - Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Beds - Reports on Capacity and Outcomes

SB 870 requires the Maryland Department of Health to ensure at least 24 licensed adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds are operational in Prince George’s County by December 2028. The bill mandates the Department to expand capacity through existing facilities, private contracts, or public-private partnerships, prioritizing solutions that reduce emergency department boarding and ensure access regardless of insurance. It also creates a grant program to fund capital costs like construction, renovations, and safety upgrades for qualifying facilities. The Department must report annually to the Governor and General Assembly on bed availability, boarding metrics, staffing barriers, and recommendations for maintaining capacity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 24 additional adolescent psychiatric beds, ensures access regardless of insurance, and funds expansion via grants, directly supporting mental health services access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1470: Medical Assistance Programs - Drug Dispensing - Cost-of-Dispensing Survey

HB 1470 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct an in-state cost-of-dispensing survey for Medicaid drugs at least once every three years, starting in 2026. Within six months after each survey, the Department must set a fee-for-service reimbursement rate for pharmacists dispensing Medicaid-covered drugs based on the survey results. This directly affects pharmacies participating in Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid), as the new fee structure will determine their reimbursement for drug dispensing services. The bill establishes a regular, data-driven process to update these fees, ensuring they reflect actual dispensing costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid drug reimbursement rates based on cost surveys, ensuring pharmacy participation in Medical Assistance Program and supporting patient access to medications.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 995: Health Occupations - Behavioral Health Care Providers - Use of Artificial Intelligence

HB 995 prohibits behavioral health care providers (like therapists and counselors) in Maryland from using artificial intelligence for direct patient care, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic communication. The bill allows AI for administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments or managing records, but requires providers to: comply with confidentiality laws, sign vendor agreements preventing data misuse, and obtain written patient consent about AI risks. Providers must also independently verify AI-generated clinical data before use. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies to all licensed behavioral health providers in Maryland.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits AI in direct patient care for behavioral health providers to protect patient rights and confidentiality, aligning with healthcare protection indicators.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits AI use in direct patient care (diagnosis/treatment), requiring consent/data safeguards. Restricts technology application in healthcare, aligning with 'oppose' criteria.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Artificial Intelligence

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 878: Workers' Compensation - Heart Disease and Hypertension Presumption and Permanent Partial Disability - Carroll County Correctional Deputies

HB 878 extends Maryland's workers' compensation presumption for heart disease and hypertension to Carroll County correctional deputies. It adds "Carroll County Correctional Deputy" to the list of public safety employees eligible for this presumption, meaning they can automatically qualify for benefits if these conditions result in partial disability or death while on duty. The bill requires deputies to undergo a pre-employment medical exam to establish any pre-existing heart conditions, and benefits only apply if the condition is more severe than prior to their employment. This change modifies specific sections of Maryland's workers' compensation law to apply these provisions exclusively to Carroll County correctional deputies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends automatic workers' comp benefits for heart disease/hypertension to correctional deputies, ensuring healthcare coverage access for work-related conditions without proving causation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends automatic workers' comp benefits for heart disease/hypertension to correctional deputies, strengthening workplace injury protections for public safety workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 699: Health Insurance - Physical Therapy - Copayments, Coinsurance, and Deductibles

SB 699 prohibits health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs in Maryland from charging patients more for covered physical therapy services than they charge for an annual physical or wellness visit under the same health plan. The bill requires these entities to clearly state all coverage rules, limits, and exclusions for physical therapy in their plan documents. It applies to all individual, group, and blanket health insurance policies issued in Maryland, effective January 1, 2027. This policy change directly affects health plan providers and ensures consistent cost-sharing for physical therapy compared to routine wellness visits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents higher copays for physical therapy vs. annual visits, aligns coverage costs, improves patient access to covered services per bill's explicit prohibitions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 551: Health Insurance - Ovarian Cancer Prevention With Salpingectomy - Required Coverage and Prohibited Cost Sharing

This bill requires health insurers and health plans in Maryland to cover salpingectomy (surgery to remove fallopian tubes) specifically for ovarian cancer prevention as a standard benefit, with no out-of-pocket costs like copays or deductibles for patients. It applies to all health insurance policies issued in Maryland after January 1, 2027, directly affecting women who might choose this preventive surgery and the insurers providing coverage. The key provision bans cost-sharing for this procedure, except when an individual is enrolled in a high-deductible health plan meeting federal criteria. This ensures access to a proven preventive measure without financial barriers for most patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates full insurance coverage for ovarian cancer prevention surgery, eliminating patient cost-sharing and expanding access to preventive care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 808: Health Insurance - Provider Panels - Requirements

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates provider application fees, mandates timely notices/directory updates, and expands non-restricted provider types - improving access and transparency in health insurance coverage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 809: Supporting Our Caregiver Infrastructure Program - Feasibility Study

This bill requires Maryland's Office of the Comptroller, with assistance from the Department of Human Services, to conduct a feasibility study on creating a program that would provide monthly payments to caregivers of specific family members. The study will examine economic impacts like potential increases in workforce participation, tax revenue, and reduced reliance on public benefits, while also identifying funding sources and administrative costs. It must be completed by July 1, 2027, and reported to relevant legislative committees. The bill does not establish the program itself but sets the groundwork for evaluating its potential. This study directly affects state agencies responsible for conducting the analysis, with no direct impact on caregivers or families until a future decision to implement the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill initiates feasibility study for caregiver payments, aiming to improve healthcare infrastructure access and reduce public benefit reliance, aligning with support indicators like strengthening caregiver support systems.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates feasibility study examining how caregiver payments could increase workforce participation and reduce public benefit reliance, directly addressing labor market impacts.85% confidence

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1162: Correctional Services – Medication–Assisted Treatment Funding

HB 1162 requires Maryland correctional facilities in specific counties (starting with Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s) to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder. It mandates facilities to conduct assessments, offer FDA-approved MAT options, and provide behavioral health counseling, with special provisions for pregnant individuals. The bill establishes funding mechanisms: the Special Secretary of Overdose Response must annually reimburse counties for MAT costs, and the Opioid Restitution Fund’s authorized uses expand to support this. This applies to local detention centers and the Baltimore Pre-trial Complex by 2023, with implementation schedules for additional counties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates funding for MAT in correctional facilities, establishing budget allocation for essential health services within state correctional system.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates MAT in correctional facilities for opioid use disorder, advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder in prisons with funding, expanding healthcare access for incarcerated individuals through FDA-approved treatment and counseling.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Victims' Rights Mental Health Substance Abuse

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