HB 1154 limits restrictive housing for pregnant incarcerated individuals in Maryland correctional facilities. It prohibits placing them in restrictive housing (defined as 20+ hours locked in a cell daily) except in specific emergencies involving immediate safety risks or disease control, requiring facility staff to document why less restrictive options weren’t possible. The bill mandates medical assessments every 8 hours, access to recreation and programming for pregnant individuals in infirmary care, and requires facilities to submit detailed reports to officials within 30 days of any placement. It also prohibits placing other vulnerable populations in restrictive housing and mandates the Correctional Ombudsman to review implementation annually.
HB 772 establishes a workgroup within Maryland's Health Care Commission to develop fairer reimbursement methods for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers. The workgroup will study current costs, staffing models, and federal requirements to create transparent, cost-based payment systems, comparing approaches used in other states. It must submit an interim report by December 2026 and a final report by October 2027 with specific recommendations, implementation options, and fiscal estimates. The bill does not require immediate rate changes or new funding, but rather sets a process for future policy decisions based on the workgroup's findings.
This bill requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their total nursing and residential care revenue on direct care staff wages and benefits (including nurses, dietary, therapy, and social workers). Nursing homes must annually submit detailed cost reports by September 1 starting in 2027, including proof of wage payments and other data determined by the Maryland Department of Health. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including suspension from the Maryland Medical Assistance Program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting all nursing homes operating in Maryland.
SB 702 streamlines the relocation process for existing behavioral health programs in Maryland. It requires the Behavioral Health Administration to adopt regulations creating an expedited approval path separate from new program applications. Key provisions include allowing programs to reuse unchanged prior documentation, granting temporary approval at new sites meeting life safety standards, and mandating clear timelines for relocations. This directly affects current behavioral health programs seeking to move locations without restarting full licensing. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1228 exempts premiums paid by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems in Maryland for their own captive insurance (insurance they set up themselves) from the state's 3% premium receipts tax. This applies to all entities within the system, including parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliated providers. The bill removes the tax obligation for these organizations on qualifying captive insurance premiums and prohibits the state from collecting past-due taxes, fees, or penalties related to this tax before the law takes effect. It directly affects nonprofit health care providers across Maryland by reducing their insurance-related costs.
HB 1589 simplifies how Maryland residents can update the sex designation on their birth certificates and state-issued IDs. It allows individuals (or their guardians for minors/disabled adults) to request a new birth certificate with a changed sex designation by submitting a written request under penalty of perjury, plus a healthcare provider's statement confirming medical treatment for gender transition or an intersex condition. The bill removes the previous requirement for a court order to change sex designation on birth certificates and expands options for indicating sex on driver's licenses and ID cards. This directly affects transgender and intersex Marylanders seeking to align official documents with their gender identity.
SB 794 creates a special enrollment period for pregnancy in Maryland health insurance. It allows individuals who become pregnant (confirmed by a healthcare provider) to choose whether their coverage starts on the first day of the month they receive pregnancy confirmation or the first day of the following month. If they don’t select a date, the insurance company must choose one of these two options. This applies to both marketplace and non-marketplace health plans and takes effect January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals and parents enrolling dependents during this 90-day special enrollment period.
HB 1094 requires Maryland health insurers to reimburse individuals for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns in counseling, social work, and psychology under specific conditions. It applies to insureds covered by policies meeting Maryland’s jurisdictional requirements (e.g., issued in-state or covering Maryland residents). Reimbursement is mandated only when interns work under direct supervision of licensed professionals at outpatient facilities and services are billed by the supervising clinician. The bill amends existing insurance codes to ensure coverage for these supervised intern services, directly affecting insurers, interns, and patients seeking mental health care.
HB 838 repeals a requirement that prescribers submit prescriber-pharmacist agreements to their regulating health board. Instead, it allows pharmacists (with specific qualifications, registrations, and training) to directly enter agreements authorizing them to treat opioid use disorder using controlled substances. A key provision requires pharmacists to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for relevant patient data before starting or changing such therapy. This bill directly affects pharmacists, prescribers, and patients with opioid use disorder by expanding pharmacists' role in medication management under defined safeguards.
HB 1135 allows pharmacists in Maryland to order certain vaccinations for patients aged 3 and older without needing to administer the vaccine themselves. Pharmacists must complete 20+ hours of approved training covering vaccine safety, injection techniques, and emergency response, hold current CPR certification, and report all vaccinations to the ImmuNet program. The bill specifically covers influenza, COVID-19, and emergency-use vaccines, and requires pharmacists to refer minors to pediatric care when ordering vaccines. This expands pharmacists' role in vaccine access while maintaining safety protocols and reporting requirements.
